More than 200 Rakhine Buddhist refugees living near a border village in Mizoram since 2017 have been sent back to Myanmar despite non-cooperation from the authorities in the neighbouring country, officials have said.
In November 2017, more than 1,500 Rakhine Buddhists crossed over to Mizoram as fighting raged between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military. Arakan Army, an insurgent outfit, is fighting for a confederate status for Rakhine state.
The refugees, who mostly came in boats, took shelter in four border villages in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district — Laitlang, Hmawngbuchhua, Zochachhua, and Dumzautlang. “The push back of 219 persons has been completed today (Tuesday). They were sent back in Maruti Gypsy vehicles and on foot. Their houses have been destroyed,” deputy commissioner of Lawngtlai Shashanka Ala said.