Mizoram Civil Society Appeals to Refugees and Displaced People to Avoid Drug Trade, Preserve Unity

Civil society organisations in Mizoram have urged refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh, along with internally displaced people (IDPs) from Manipur, to stay away from drug trafficking and help maintain the state's social harmony.

The appeal was made on Wednesday during a meeting of the NGO Coordination Committee—a collective of five major civil and student groups, led by the Central Young Mizo Association. In a joint statement, the committee expressed concern over the growing drug problem in the state and alleged involvement of some refugees, especially from Myanmar.

The groups urged the refugees and IDPs not to engage in activities driven by ethnic or tribal loyalties that could harm the fabric of Mizo unity. They expressed regret over reports that some refugees were developing a sense of separateness and warned against actions that could divide communities.

The committee also called on those taking shelter in the state to respect local values and laws, and not get involved in drug-related crimes. Their message was clear: while Mizoram continues to offer humanitarian support, that trust should not be misused.

State Home Minister K Sapdanga had earlier said that more than half of the recent criminal cases in Mizoram involved individuals from the refugee population.

According to the Home Department, over 32,000 people from Myanmar are currently living in Mizoram, though the number fluctuates frequently as some cross back and forth. An additional 2,371 people from Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts are also staying in the state, along with over 7,000 people from Manipur—mostly from the Zo ethnic community—who were displaced by ethnic violence since May 2023.

Many of these refugees share close cultural and ethnic ties with the Mizos. The Myanmar nationals are mostly from Chin State and fled after the 2021 military coup. The Bangladeshis belong primarily to the Bawm tribe and arrived following military action in 2022. The Kuki-Zo people from Manipur are also closely related to the Mizo community.

The civil society groups emphasised that while Mizoram continues to stand in solidarity with those seeking shelter, preserving unity and peace is essential. They urged all refugees and displaced people to act responsibly and not jeopardise the trust and support extended to them.