India hands over 39 Myanmarese soldiers to their country

39 members of the Myanmar Army who had infiltrated Mizoram after the collapse of their camps to opposition forces on Monday were safely taken back by India over the Moreh border in Manipur on Tuesday.

After two army camps in upper Khawmawi and Rihkhawdar villages in the neighboring nation were overrun by a combined armed force of civilians and rebels, the Myanmar military left Khawmawi for Zokhawthar in the Champhai district of Mizoram "for their safety."

The Tiau River divides Mizoram's Zokhawthar from Myanmar's Khawmawi.

The camp at Upper Khawmawi fell first on Monday, followed by Rihkhawdar, which was overrun by the opposition forces including the Kachin Independent Army, Chin National Army, and Chin Defence Force.

The 39 Myanmar soldiers were initially brought to the 2nd Assam Rifles headquarters at Hnahlan village in Champhai district, which is around 75 kilometers from Zokhawthar, an official told The Telegraph.

According to the official, "They were transported to their nation (via the neighboring Moreh-Tamu integrated check-post) after being flown to Moreh (from Hnahlan) in two choppers in two batches each. The procedure started in the morning and went through the afternoon. The rest of the staff will be led back as well."

Burma is where Tamu is.

Similar to Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur also share a border with Myanmar.

According to officials who spoke with this publication, the defense ministry "asked" Mizoram police on Monday night to turn over the Myanmar forces to the Assam Rifles since they were "in charge" of border developments. Around 8:00 p.m. on Monday, the Myanmar forces arrived in Mizoram. The Zokhawthar police kept them under guard till the Assam Rifles received them.

India and Myanmar, a country that serves as a gateway to South East Asia, have strong defense and commerce relations. In keeping with Act East and Neighborhood First, India wants to "enhance" its engagement with Myanmar.

The international border between Mizoram and Myanmar is guarded by the Assam Rifles, although under the Free Movement Regime, individuals from both sides are permitted to go up to 16 km apart.

The information officer for the Chin National Army was reported by Myanmar Now, an independent news agency in that nation, as stating that Rihkhawdar, which is part of Chin State's Falam township, fell early on Monday as a result of an offensive that started at 11 p.m. on Sunday. He said that five troops had been taken prisoner.

Over a hundred army positions have reportedly been taken over "by anti-regime forces around the country since late last month," according to Myanmar Now.

At least 1,400 villagers had come to Zokhawthar from the border villages before to the arrival of the army. With assistance from the authorities, the Young Mizo Association and the townspeople gave them food and shelter.

On the Myanmar side, things were "calm and quiet" on Tuesday, according to Mizoram authorities, after heavy bombardment on Monday by a Myanmar plane and helicopter that dropped "uncountable bombs." "We are keeping a close eye on the situation," a policeman said.