GUWAHATI: Hundreds of Myanmar soldiers have sought refuge in India as the fighting between the rebel forces and the military regime intensified in Myanmar. The soldiers are coming to the border state of Mizoram. With this, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that the India-Myanmar border will be fenced and free movement through the Myanmar border will be stopped. The Center has invited tenders to build a smart fence across the border.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has also demanded that free movement along the India-Myanmar border be stopped to prevent illegal immigration. Myanmar soldiers have been given shelter in Assam Rifles Camp. About 600 soldiers have arrived in India in three months.

The Mizoram government conveyed the information to the central government and sought immediate intervention. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma and Union Home Minister Amit Shah held an emergency meeting during the plenary session of the Northeast Council meeting in Shillong. Lalduhoma informed Amit Shah that the Myanmar soldiers who had taken shelter should be sent back as soon as possible.

The situation was exacerbated by the seizure of military camps by the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic armed group in Myanmar's Rakhine State. The soldiers were fleeing to Mizoram with this. The spread was a coordinated attack by three ethnic minority forces in October. They captured some cities and military posts. With this, the generals who seized power in Myanmar through a military coup in 2021 are facing the biggest challenge from the rebel forces.