Mizoram State bans Myanmar, Bangladesh refugees from acquiring Indian IDs

24/03/2025 14:32

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Htet Nadi (NP News) - Macrh 24

The Hindustan Times reported that the Aizawl district administration in Mizoram banned civil society groups, local councils, and village authorities from providing any form of recommendation that could help refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh, who are seeking shelter in the state, acquire Indian identity documents on March 18.
The order issued by Aizawl Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lalhriatpuia comes after a directive from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) aimed at preventing immigrants and refugees from obtaining Indian identification documents according to reports.
The report stated that refugees do not have legal rights to obtain Indian identification documents, including Voter ID cards, Aadhaar cards, birth certificates, tribal certificates, or residential certificates.
During the current Mizoram Assembly session, state legislators urged the government to take immediate action to address the issues of illegal immigration and the potential humanitarian challenges arising from it.
Mizoram Home Minister K. Sapdanga stated that the majority of immigrants and refugees in the state have cultural and ethnic connections to the Mizo ethnic group of northeast India.
Mizoram Home Minister K. Sapdanga reported that the state is currently providing shelter to 33,505 refugees from Myanmar and 2,217 from Bangladesh. Most of these refugees belong to the Chin ethnic group from Myanmar and the Bawm tribe from Bangladesh, both of whom have strong cultural and ethnic ties with the Mizos.
Mizoram shares a total of 722 kilometers of international borders—510 kilometers with Myanmar and 318 kilometers with Bangladesh—making it one of India’s most vulnerable states to cross-border migration.