Citing friendly relations, Myanmar asks Mizoram to handover its 8 policemen

Citing friendly relations with India, Myanmar has asked Mizoram government to hand over eight police personnel who had crossed the border to fleeing from the military and had taken shelter in Aizawl and Champhai districts.

In a letter to Maria CT Zuali, the deputy commissioner of Champai, her counterpart in Myanmar's Falam district, Saw Htun Win on Friday said eight police personnel had crossed over to Mizoram in the past few days and four of them are taking shelter in Champhai. "In order to uphold friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries, you are kindly requested to detain eight Myanmar police personnel who had arrived in Indian territories and hand over to Myanmar," said the letter. The letter also attached photographs of the four policemen for identification.

Falam shares a border with Champhai district.

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DH on Thursday reported that eight Myanmarese nationals including three policemen had taken shelter in neighbouring Serchip district. This happened amid intensified clashes between the military and the pro-democracy protesters, who are demanding restoration of the democratically-elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Sources on Saturday said at least 16 Myanmarese nationals had taken shelter in Mizoram so far seeking asylum. Some of them claim they are police personnel. They are being taken care of in the community halls of Mizoram villages close to the border.

Mizoram shares a nearly 510-km-long border with Myanmar. There is a possibility that India may see an influx of immigrants fleeing political persecution by the Military. Officials in Mizoram said the state government had already taken up the matter with the Centre seeking direction for necessary action.