245 Myanmar refugees enter Mizoram amid fresh ethic clashes

245 Myanmar refugees enter Mizoram amid fresh ethic clashes

Amid renewed clashes between Myanmar’s military and an alliance of ethnic insurgent groups, including the Chin National Army (CNA), at least 245 refugees have crossed into India’s Mizoram state seeking safety, officials said.

The refugees entered through the Zokhawthar border on Sunday as fighting escalated in the region. Local authorities are providing them with temporary shelter and support.

This marks the latest wave of displacement from Myanmar’s northwestern Chin state, which shares deep ethnic and familial ties with communities in Mizoram. Violence has surged in recent weeks as the military regime struggles to regain control over territories held by the Three Brotherhood Alliance — a coalition of ethnic armed groups that includes the CNA.

Since Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, over 35,000 people have reportedly taken shelter in Mizoram alone, with regular cross-border movement triggered by escalating military crackdowns and airstrikes on rebel-held areas.

As per official data reported by the Times of India, displaced individuals currently taking refuge in Mizoram make up roughly 3% of the state’s estimated population. This includes around 33,000 Chin refugees from Myanmar, 2,200 Bawm people from Bangladesh, and more than 5,500 internally displaced Kuki-Zo individuals from Manipur.

The Indian government has so far adopted a humanitarian approach in Mizoram, allowing local authorities to manage relief despite a broader policy of not recognizing refugees from Myanmar under the UN framework.