AIZAWL: A Myanmar army aircraft crash-landed at Mizoram’s Lengpui airport on Tuesday morning, leaving 14 crew members onboard.
The incident occurred during the military’s mission to airlift Myanmar army personnel who had sought refuge in Mizoram after fleeing rebel conflicts in their home country.
The ill-fated aircraft, engaged in multiple sorties to transport the army men in batches, faced difficulties during the landing on the tabletop runway.
Four crew members are reported to have sustained critical injuries and have been admitted to the Lengpui hospital.
Reportedly, their mission was to evacuate the remaining 92 Myanmar Army personnel who had sought asylum in Parva III village, located in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai District.
As a result of the crash, all flights to Aizawl airport were diverted, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an investigation into the incident, according to a report published by a national daily.
The Myanmar military personnel, totalling 276 soldiers, had sought shelter in Mizoram and were scheduled to be airlifted from Lengpui airport.
The recent incident has disrupted the planned evacuation and more details are awaited.
This is not the first instance of Myanmar army soldiers seeking refuge in Mizoram.
Last year, on December 29, 151 Tatmadaw soldiers crossed over to locations within Mizoram.
Reports from Indian security forces indicated that the soldiers entered Mizoram in two batches, with the first group of 83 soldiers arriving in the afternoon and the second group of 68 troops arriving in the evening.
The international border has been a point of contention between the Mizoram government and the Centre for many years now.
ALSO READ Mizoram opposes smart fencing on India-Myanmar border, CM admits inability to halt move
On January 21, Chief Minister Lalduhoma opposed the Centre’s decision to fence the India-Myanmar border, highlighting the historical context of the border’s creation during British rule.
He argued that the Mizo people residing on both sides of the border do not acknowledge its legitimacy.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a speech on January 20, had stressed on the need to secure the India-Myanmar border, drawing parallels with the border with Bangladesh.
The disagreement between the newly elected Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government and the Centre adds complexity to the issue of accommodating fleeing Myanmar army personnel in Indian territory.
