According to a Police Officer, at least 14 lawmakers are among over 2,200 people from Myanmar who have taken refuge in Mizoram after fleeing their country to avoid detention following the military takeover in February.

The police official said that the 14 members of Myanmar Parliament are from Chin state and Sagaing region and they belonged to Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), the party that had won the November 2020 election.

At least 2,223 Myanmarese had sneaked into Mizoram and are currently taking shelter in different parts of the state, later he added.

Of the 2,223 people, 80 per cent are police personnel, while the rest 20 per cent are other government servants like teachers, firemen and bureaucrats.

He said that the majority of the refugees are being provided food by the local NGOs, while some are sheltered by villagers. Champhai district housed the highest number of Myanmar nationals at 558, followed by Siaha district which housed 414 of them, he said.

According to the official, the Myanmar nationals are currently taking refuge in nine districts, including the state capital Aizawl.

Chief Minister Zoramthanga had shot a letter to the Prime Minister in March, stressing that India should not be turning a blind eye to the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

Recently, Union Home minister Amit Shah had stated that the Centre would give food and medicines to the Myanmar nationals who have taken refuge in India, but the state government is yet to receive any “clear-cut direction” in the matter.