Ethnic fighting forces 276 Myanmar soldiers to enter India

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - A few hundred soldiers from Myanmar crossed into the Indian side this week, seeking refuge, according to an official speaking to Anadolu.

The Burmese soldiers, numbering around 276, entered the northeastern state of Mizoram on the Indian side on Wednesday, surrendering to Indian security personnel along with their arms, said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The process to repatriate the soldiers to Myanmar "has started and it is likely to be done over the weekend," he added.

This is not the first time soldiers from Myanmar have crossed into India.

Early this month, Indian army chief General Manoj Pande had warned that some of the Burmese insurgent groups were attempting to enter India.

He added 416 Burmese soldiers had walked into the Indian side of the border. Officials said those Myanmar soldiers who entered India earlier have been sent back.

At least three ethnic armed groups, which united under the so-called Brotherhood Alliance, have been fighting the junta regime to take control in the northern parts of Myanmar since late October.

The groups are attacking junta forces, which rule the Buddhist-majority Southeast Asian nation, capturing many towns and junta outposts.

Many people have been reported killed during the attacks.

However, Myanmar's northern neighbor China has brokered a cease-fire among the warring parties with ruling junta in the Southeast Asian nation.

Myanmar has been under junta rule since February 2021 and the military, locally known as Tatmadaw, has faced severe resistance from ethnic groups in many regions of the country.