Mizoram jails become home to infiltrators

New Delhi: Despite sealing of the borders and keeping extra vigil in view of the incessant rise of COVID-19 cases across the country, as many as 12 nationals from neighbouring Myanmar have recently entered into the Northeastern region illegally.
Official sources said the infiltrators are mostly traders, who are now being kept in the district jail in Champhai near the India-Myanmar border in Mizoram.
It may be mentioned that the state shares a 348-km-long border with Myanmar.
The Myanmarese nationals have been booked under relevant sections of the Passport Act and Indian Penal Code.
The infiltrators, who entered the state on March 22, were quarantined for 14 days, following which they were sent to the jail.
Apart from these Myanmar nationals, six militants of Myanmar’s Arakan Army are also lodged at two
different jails in the state.
The rebels usually cross over to the Indian side whenever there is an offensive against them by the Myanmar Army.
Over 300 Rohingya women, who are suspected to be victims of trafficking and are also from Myanmar and Bangladesh, are under detention in the state.
They will be sent to corrective homes prior to their deportation, official sources said.
Interestingly, one Chinese national is also lodged in the state’s jail, the sources said.
The Chinese national had entered the state last year without any valid travel documents.