At least 28 Mizos spent two nights on a hanging bridge as they tried to return from Mynamar got caught in the no man's land as India was under lockdown.
The 50-foot bridge is on the Tiau river connects Zokhawthar in Mizoram's Champhai district and Rih in Myanmar. As per the India-Myanmar protocol, residents of both sides upto 16 kilometre has free movement and do not need any official paper.
The 28 Mizos, including 11children, had gone to Myanmar to visit relatives much before the border wassealed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent countrywide lockdown for21 days.
"These Mizo villagers were notaware of the lockdown and when they arrived at the border, the Myanmar sentriesput them on the bridge and locked their end," said T.J. Lalnuntluanga,Mizoram's Minister of State for Transport, Law, Parliamentary AffairsDepartment and Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
"But the Assam Rifles personnelmanning the border locked the Indian end of the gate too, forcing the men,women and children to spend two nights on the bridge with no food, shelter andtoilet," Mr Lalnuntluanga said.
Zokhawthar falls within theChamphai South Assembly constituency that he represents. "What happened tothose people was inhuman. It seemed they were put in an open-air jail for nofault of theirs. Members of the Zokhawthar Task Force and YMA provided themfood while they were caught in no man's land," local village council presidentMuani said.
The YMA also provided tarpaulinand other tent materials while they were on the bridge, officials said.
Local officials and members ofthe Young Mizo Association (YMA) tried to get the stranded people released butAssam Rifles officials said the gate could be opened only after instructionsfrom the appropriate authority.
Chief Minister Zoramthanga andHome Minister Lalchamliana intervened and sternly told MHA that "bringing the Mizo villagers was as importantas flying resourceful Indians in from foreign lands".
But it took long time to theAssam Rifles to get the order and opened the gate at the evening of SUndayonly, after spending two days on thebridge. They were taken to a facility at the Champhai Deputy Commissioner'soffice where they have been quarantined.