Over 3,000 refugees from Myanmar’s Chin State have crossed into Mizoram since July 3, fleeing intense clashes between two ethnic armed groups. The sound of heavy gunfire and drone attacks could be heard from the Indian side, as people streamed into Zokhawthar in Champhai district, seeking safety. The latest displacement adds to the existing 32,000 Myanmarese refugees already living in Mizoram since the 2021 coup.
What triggered the fresh displacement?
The fighting broke out between the Chinland Defence Force–Hualngoram (CDF-Hualngoram) and the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF). The most intense phase began on July 2, but tensions had been simmering since early June, when CNDF fighters set up checkpoints in areas traditionally controlled by CDF-Hualngoram, including in Khawthlir village. According to a CDF-Hualngoram spokesperson, the CNDF provoked the clashes with drone strikes and military movements into their territory.
Fighting was reported from Satawm, Lianhna, and Tuichirh villages. On June 16, CDF-Hualngoram had declared a state of emergency, citing mistreatment of locals by CNDF forces. Despite efforts to de-escalate, both sides were drawn into direct armed confrontation.
Cross-border casualty in Mizoram
The violence has had consequences on the Indian side as well. C. Lalhmuakmawia, a 37-year-old carpenter from Chanmari West in Aizawl, was killed in the crossfire in Khawmawi, Myanmar, where he had gone to assist his uncle with house construction. His body was brought back to Mizoram for burial.
Complex Chin resistance politics behind the clashes
The clashes are a result of deepening divisions within the Chin resistance movement. Initially united under the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) in 2021, the Chin factions split after the Chin National Front (CNF) formed the Chinland Council (CC) in December 2023.
The CC brought together the CNF, its armed wing—the Chin National Army (CNA)—and several defence forces. In opposition, the Chin Brotherhood (CB) was formed by six groups including the CNO/CNDF, and backed by the ICNCC. These two coalitions have since vied for influence in the region.
One of the central points of disagreement has been CNF’s push to place all Chin armed groups under a single Ministry of Defence, sparking resentment among factions that felt sidelined. The rivalry has escalated into violence over territorial control and strategic dominance, particularly near the India–Myanmar border.
The Hualngoram CDF operates under the Chinland Council, supported by the Chin National Front (CNF) and its military arm, the Chin National Army (CNA). Meanwhile, the CNO/CNDF is aligned with the Chin Brotherhood, with the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) serving as its political wing.
Mizoram’s role in peace-building and humanitarian response
The people of Mizoram share strong ethnic and cultural ties with the Chin people, many of whom belong to the broader Zo ethnic group. In response to the crisis, Mizoram has taken both humanitarian and peacebuilding roles, despite limited support from the central government.
On July 5, local leaders from the Young Mizo Association (YMA) in Zokhawthar used loudspeakers to urge the warring factions to stop firing in the direction of India. The YMA also convened leaders from the Chin National Organisation (CNO) and the Hualngoram People’s Organisation (HPO) to mediate a temporary ceasefire, so that women, children, and families could flee safely.
Refugees with family in Mizoram were allowed to stay with their relatives, while others were accommodated in relief camps and community halls set up by local organisations and the state government.
On the evening of July 6, a team from the Chief Minister’s Advocacy Group for Peace crossed into Tiau Khawmawi (Myanmar) to engage directly in peace discussions with the factions involved.
Past peace efforts and continuing challenges
Efforts to unify Chin factions have been ongoing for months. On February 26, 2025, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma hosted a landmark meeting where factions from the Chinland Council and Chin Brotherhood agreed to form a new unified structure called the Chin National Council, and a constitution drafting committee was also established.
However, implementation has proved difficult. Previous negotiations, including those initiated by the Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO), had collapsed. ZORO’s General Secretary Lalramdinliana Renthlei noted in an interview earlier this year that unity was essential for survival, especially with the Chin population already small and vulnerable.
A member of the Advocacy Group for Peace told EastMojo in February, “Even if the junta is defeated and the refugees return home, civil war among themselves will prevent lasting peace. They must learn to coexist and act together.”
Wider humanitarian crisis in Chin State
The fighting comes amid a broader humanitarian catastrophe in Chin State. According to the Institute of Chin Affairs, between February 2024 and February 2025, the military junta launched 241 airstrikes, killing 963 people, including 491 civilians, and destroying over 1,200 homes. More than 3,400 homes have been torched, and religious and government buildings have also been targeted.
Also Read: Assam: Railways pose highest elephant mortality threat in India
You just read a story that took days to report. Help us keep our reporters on the ground in the Northeast.
Ad-free reading, support and keep important stories alive
Support once (any amount)
Scan to pay via UPI