Slovak detained along Mizoram-Myanmar border, likely to be deported

A 58-year old citizen of the Slovak Republic was detained by the Assam Rifles along the Mizoram border on March 24 when he was allegedly trying to cross over to Myanmar to meet a friend, a government official said. He has been handed over to the Mizoram police.

The Slovak man, who lives in Thailand had travelled from Bangkok to Kolkata and then further to Aizawl as suggested by his friend, a Myanmarese national, whom he had met at a resort in Thailand where he worked a few years ago.

“This was his first visit to India. On his friend’s advice, he took a flight from Kolkata to Aizawl and further travelled to Lungpuk village (in south Mizoram) in a taxi. He planned to cross the border where his friend was expected to receive him,” said the official.

He told officials that he was going to his friend’s place at Ramree Island in Rakhine State, Myanmar to celebrate the Thingyan Festival, which begins on April 13 and marks the Myanmarese New Year.

‘Did not have permit’

Mizoram Director General of Police Sharad Agarwal told The Hindu that verification of the Slovak man’s antecedents is underway and he has not been arrested yet.

Another government official said that the foreigner is likely to be deported, noting that he did not have a protected area permit (PAP) with him. Nothing suspicious was found on him, the official added.

On December 17, 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) withdrew the liberal protected area regime (PAR) in Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, that let foreigners visit these States without any prior permission or PAP for tourism or other purposes. The exemption from PAR, in existence since 1958, was withdrawn in the three States after a relaxation of 14 years. MHA said that the matter was examined “in the backdrop of growing security concerns in border areas of these States.”

India and Myanmar share an unfenced border and Assam Rifles is the border guarding force.

The detention of the Slovak man comes close on the heels of the recent arrest of a U.S. citizen and six Ukrainian nationals who are alleged to have illegally crossed into Myanmar via Mizoram to train armed ethnic groups in weapons handling and drones. The accused are presently in the custody of the National Investigation Agency and they are alleged to have imported drones from Europe to Myanmar via India for the use of ethnically armed groups there.