Entering without valid documentation, Mizoram arrests 12 suspected Rohingyas from Bangladesh

Aizawl, May 6: Suspected as victims of human trafficking, 12 suspected Rohingya from Bangladesh were arrested in Mizoram for entering the state without valid travel documents. Out of the 12 arrested, eight women and four boys from Bangladesh were taken from a house to Bawngkawn police station on Sunday.

 

Deputy Inspector of Police (Northern Range) Lalbiakthanga Khiangte said that it is suspected that these people are victims of human trafficking. He further added that the arrested people had some mobile phones without sim cards in their possession. Investigation is on to find out their identities.

After initial investigation it was reported that these people were found at the residence of a woman. The woman claimed that her cousin, who lives at Tahan in Myanmar had asked her for a favour for keeping the "guests" before being taken to the neighbouring country.

In late April, eight Rohingya women were detained at India-Myanmar border town of Vairengte for trying to enter Mizoram illegally and were pushed back. They had claimed that they were from Kutupalong refugee camp at Sabulara in Bangladesh and were abducted by a group of men on April 19 and brought them to Mizoram by truck.

Earlier, Foreign Ministers of India and Bangladesh held talks to further intensify ties between the two countries as they called for expediting safe and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya refugees.

More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled from Myanmar's Rakhine state to neighbouring Bangladesh since August 2017 after a military crackdown, triggering a massive refugee crisis.