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New DELHI: At least 16 Myanmar nationals, some of them police, have crossed into India seeking refuge after the junta overthrew the government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup. Some families and reportedly three police constables have since Wednesday crossed into Serchhip, Champhai and Hnahthial districts of Mizoram state that share a porous border with Myanmar.
Domestic media, citing official sources, reported the policemen had escaped the military because they refused to obey orders but it was not clear what the orders were.
“Eight Myanmar nationals have reached our district. It is yet to be confirmed if there are policemen in this group. We are trying to verify their identities. [Among them there] is a family,” Serchhip’s top official Kumar Abhishek told dpa. A police official in Hnahthial said a family of four, seeking shelter, was found in the district on Thursday evening. Four more Burmese were found in Champhai, another official said. All of them were wearing civilian clothes and were unarmed when they were found in Indian territory. India shares a 1,640-kilometre boundary with Myanmar, where over 50 people, mostly protestors, have been killed since the coup on February 1.
Authorities in India’s border districts are preparing for a possible influx of refugees from Myanmar, the Hindustan Times daily reported. District officials have issued orders asking locals to immediately notify them about Myanmar nationals entering India seeking shelter, the report said. (dpa)
Domestic media, citing official sources, reported the policemen had escaped the military because they refused to obey orders but it was not clear what the orders were.
“Eight Myanmar nationals have reached our district. It is yet to be confirmed if there are policemen in this group. We are trying to verify their identities. [Among them there] is a family,” Serchhip’s top official Kumar Abhishek told dpa. A police official in Hnahthial said a family of four, seeking shelter, was found in the district on Thursday evening. Four more Burmese were found in Champhai, another official said. All of them were wearing civilian clothes and were unarmed when they were found in Indian territory. India shares a 1,640-kilometre boundary with Myanmar, where over 50 people, mostly protestors, have been killed since the coup on February 1.
Authorities in India’s border districts are preparing for a possible influx of refugees from Myanmar, the Hindustan Times daily reported. District officials have issued orders asking locals to immediately notify them about Myanmar nationals entering India seeking shelter, the report said. (dpa)
