Myanmar asks India to return 8 police officers who fled across border

Around 30 Myanmar police and their family members came across the border seeking refuge in recent days, as the junta's suppression of protesters turned increasingly violent, with dozens killed since the Feb. 1 coup.

myanmar, myanmar violence, myanmar coup, myanmar protests, myanmar protest cause, why are people protesting in myanmar, myanmar relations with ASEAN, indian express opinions

Around 70 civilians have already lost their lives while protesting peacefully against Myanmar’s military junta. (AP Photo)

Authorities in Myanmar have asked India to return several police officers who have sought refuge to avoid taking orders from a military junta that seized power in the Southeast Asian country last month, an official in northeast India said on Saturday.

Around 30 Myanmar police and their family members came across the border seeking refuge in recent days, as the junta’s suppression of protesters turned increasingly violent, with dozens killed since the Feb. 1 coup.

Read | India steers clear of criticising Myanmar military

The senior-most official in Champhai, a district in the Indian state of Mizoram, told Reuters that she had received a letter from her counterpart in Myanmar’s Falam district requesting the return of eight police “in order to uphold friendly relations.”

Story continues below this ad

Deputy Commissioner Maria C.T. Zuali told Reuters on Saturday that she was “waiting for the direction” from the India’s Ministry for Home Affairs in New Delhi.

Although there have been instances recounted on social media of police joining the civil disobedience movement and protests against the junta, this is the first reported case of police fleeing Myanmar.

In the letter, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters, Myanmar authorities said they had information on eight police personnel who had crossed into India.

The letter listed details for four police, aged between 22 and 25 years, including a female officer.

Story continues below this ad

“In order to uphold friendly relations between the two neighbour countries, you are kindly requested to detain 8 Myanmar police personnel who had arrived to Indian territories and hand-over to Myanmar,” the letter said.

India’s federal home ministry and foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
Myanmar

Loading Taboola...

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Statehood protest takes violent turn in Ladakh, BJP office set ablaze in Leh

India7 hr ago

Protests in Ladakh turned violent as students and youth organisations demanded statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Two elderly protesters fainted, prompting a shutdown call. A BJP office and security vehicle were set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged for a peaceful approach. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is due to Ladakh's tribal-majority population and direct central administration.

View all shorts

Live Blog