Houses of 17 Chin nationals were destroyed in Saikhumphai village, near Vaphai track of Champhai district, Mizoram, northeast India by Mizoram authorities on 28 January.
Mizoram authorities had asked around hundred people from 20 Chin households in Saikhumphai village to leave on 25 January because they were not on the Mizoram electoral rolls (voter’s list). Houses of the remaining households were destroyed.
“Nine houses were destroyed on Saturday and eight were demolished on Monday totaling 17 houses. The demolition was done by the local police. Chin villagers have been escaping to the jungle,” said a Chin national from Saikhumphai.
Now, a hundred Chin villagers are taking refuge in the jungle in temporary tents near the Indo- Burma border.
“I went to see them and felt sorry. They have not committed any crime. They lived on jhum cultivation in the village,” said a Chin elder.
Chin villagers from Saikhumphai do not have homes, land, property and national identity cards in Chin state, Burma, so most villagers do not have the courage to return.
Chin nationals from Saikhumphai, who were resettled from Chin state were permitted to stay in the village by Vaiphai village authorities since 2008.
Mizoram authorities have been trying to drive out Chin nationals from Saikhumphai village since last year after the Saikhumphai villagers claimed to have formed a separate village council for Vaphai village. Saikhumphai village had 60 households. Khonumthung news