State Home Minister K Sapdanga announced in the Legislative Assembly that Mizoram has successfully registered biometric data for nearly 99 percent of the displaced persons who entered the state from neighboring Myanmar. According to official figures maintained by the state Home Department through August 20, a total of 29,575 citizens from Myanmar are currently residing across various districts of the northeastern border state. The minister confirmed that biometric profiling has been completed for 98.90 percent of these individuals. Additionally, Mizoram is providing shelter to more than 2,000 refugees who fled from Bangladesh due to security instability in their home regions.
Ethnic Background and Reasons for Displacements
The influx of displaced populations into Mizoram stems from political turmoil and military actions in neighboring countries. A large majority of the refugees from Myanmar belong to Chin State. They crossed over into Mizoram after the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021. Meanwhile, people belonging to the Bawm tribal community from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh began seeking sanctuary in Mizoram starting in 2022, following military offensives launched against an ethnic armed insurgent group operating in that region. Both the Chin population of Myanmar and the Bawm community of Bangladesh share deep-rooted ethnic, historical, and cultural connections with the Mizo people of Mizoram, which has facilitated community acceptance during their displacement.
Digital Registration Framework and Operational Costs
The biometric documentation process for both Myanmarese and Bangladeshi refugees was launched in late July of last year following clear directives issued by the Central Government. The state administration is conducting the entire exercise using a specialized digital setup known as the Foreigners Identification Portal and Biometric Enrollment system. State Home Minister K Sapdanga revealed that the Mizoram government has expended Rs 40.60 lakh so far to execute this extensive biometric registration process across refugee locations. He further noted that the Union Government has extended financial support to Mizoram to help manage the welfare and humanitarian needs of the displaced Myanmarese population.
Border Security Enhancement and Police Recruitment Plans
Parallel to refugee registration and management, the Mizoram government is actively evaluating strategies to bolster security infrastructure along the porous Mizoram-Myanmar international border. As part of these border strengthening measures, the state administration is reviewing a proposal to upgrade the existing Hnahlan police beat post in Champhai district into a full-fledged operational police station. The strategic location of Champhai district near the international border makes security fortification crucial. Furthermore, Minister Sapdanga announced that the government has proposed recruiting 385 new personnel into the state police force during the current year to enhance enforcement capabilities and maintain law and order.
