Three Burmese arms smugglers arrested in Mizoram

New Delhi, Mar 25 – Three Burmese nationals have been arrested and five rocket launchers seized from them, in India’s north-eastern state of Mizoram, according to the police.

Assistant Sub-Inspector from Champhai police station, A. Sailo, told Mizzima on Tuesday that they had apprehended three Burmese men with arms in the Indo-Burmese border town of Champhai on Saturday.

Sailo said the police first arrested C. Zacchunga with five rocket launchers, which apparently were to be transported to Aizawl, the capital of the state. And after interrogation, the police arrested the other two - Albert D. Muanga and Thang Suan Liana.

“We seized five rocket launchers from him [Zachhunga],” Sailo told Mizzima adding, “Those weapons have been brought in from Burma.”

However, it is still unclear to whom the weapons were to be sold or for what purpose they were to be used.

Sailo said, all three had come from Chin state in north-western Burma, bordering India’s Mizoram state. He said all three of them would be tried on Tuesday.

“Now, they are on the way to Aizawl as the trial will be conducted there,” Sailo said.

Speaking to Mizzima, Aizawl District’s Additional Superintendent of Police R.D on Tuesday confirmed that three Burmese arms smugglers had been handed over to Aizawl, by Champhai police station.

In June 2008, Mizoram police had seized a consignment of AK-47 rifles and ammunition during a raid at Siphir town near Aizawl.

India’s Mizoram state and Burma share a porous border of 404 kilometres, which is often used by smugglers and businessmen to smuggle arms and drugs.