Mizoram Police have arrested five individuals, including a leader of the Myanmar-based militant group Chin National Front (CNF), in one of the largest arms seizures in the northeastern state. The operation uncovered a weapons trade involving CNF and the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), a militant group active in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The police described the operation as a significant step in counter-insurgency efforts, highlighting the transnational nature of arms smuggling in the region. “The arrest of a high-profile CNF leader is a major achievement for Mizoram’s counter-insurgency operations,” the police stated. The operation was carried out ”in partnership with a sister intelligence agency”, the police said.
The arms cache was discovered near Saithah village in Mamit district and included six AK-series assault rifles, over 10,000 rounds of ammunition, and 13 magazines. A case has been registered, and investigations are ongoing.
Mizoram shares borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh. With ethnic rebels fighting the junta in Myanmar, over 40,000 refugees have taken shelter in Mizoram. The local population on both sides of the border has ethnic affiliations.
In 2022, the National Investigation Agency linked a Mizoram-based arms smuggling case to CNF. (With NDTV inputs)