12 Myanmar nationals including police officers seek refuge in India

At least a dozen people, including five members of a family, from Myanmar crossed over to India and took shelter in bordering north eastern state of Mizoram a month after the military in the neighbouring country toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, officials said today.

Eight people have entered Serchhip district and four others reached Champhai district of Mizoram, our New Delhi correspondent reports quoting authorities.

Mizoram shares a 404-km border with Myanmar. Another north eastern Indian state Manipur also shares a 900-plus km border with Myanmar.

Four Myanmar police officers are among those who crossed over and are seeking refugee status, the Indian Express reported quoting district authorities of Champhai.

Serchhip Deputy Commissioner Kumar Abhisek said five people, which includes members of a family, crossed into Serchhip district on Thursday, while three others did so on Wednesday.

Eight people are currently lodged at a community hall in Lungkawlh village, around 8 kilometres from the India-Myanmar border and they were provided with food by the district administration, he said.

The entry of people from the neighbouring country has been communicated to the state home department and Home Minister Lalchamliana will issue a statement on the matter in the legislative assembly on March 8, an official said.

More than 100 people from Myanmar had attempted to cross the border with India to seek refuge in Mizoram recently, the Champhai Deputy Commissioner said.

However, they were stopped by the personnel of Assam Rifles which guards the border, she said.

Assam Rifles Deputy Inspector General Digvijay Singh said the force was directed not to allow any illegal entry from Myanmar.

The state government has recently issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in view of the possible influx of refugees from Myanmar following the coup in that country.

"Although civil society organisations in Mizoram are willing to harbour refugees from Myanmar, the Mizoram government cannot act on its own without the direction of the Centre as it is an international issue," Champhai Deputy Commissioner said.