Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday and discussed the fallout of the ongoing armed clashes between anti-junta groups in Myanmar’s Chin State, which has triggered a fresh influx of refugees into Mizoram.
According to an official statement, Lalduhoma apprised the Prime Minister of the humanitarian and logistical impact of the latest round of violence between the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) and the Chinland Defence Force (CDF).
The clashes have forced over 4,000 civilians from Myanmar’s border villages to seek shelter in Mizoram’s Champhai district since July 3.
Officials said most of the displaced individuals crossed into India through Zokhawthar, which borders Myanmar’s Khawmawi village across the Tiau River.
While the majority of the refugees have begun returning to Myanmar following the CNDF’s withdrawal from Khawmawi and Rih Khawdar on Saturday, some remain in Mizoram, staying with relatives in Zokhawthar and nearby areas.
Mizoram has already been hosting over 32,000 Myanmarese refugees since the military coup in 2021, making the current situation a matter of growing concern for the state government.
During his meeting with the Prime Minister, Lalduhoma also raised several key development issues, including the Thenzawl Peace City project and the improvement of the national highway linking Aizawl to Thenzawl in Serchhip district.
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He further briefed Modi on the Rs 9,265-crore Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL) project, which aims to provide piped gas connections to residents of Aizawl.
The chief minister requested the Prime Minister to inaugurate the newly completed Bairabi–Sairang railway line and the Sairang railway station.
The Prime Minister, in response, assured that he would visit Mizoram to inaugurate the projects at the earliest convenient date, the statement added.
