‘25 villages illegally set up in various areas of Mizoram’

Aizawl: There are at least 25 villages being illegally set up in different parts of Mizoram, state local administration minister K Lalrinliana informed the state legislature on Friday.

Replying to C. Sawivunga of opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), Lalrinliana said the unauthorised villages have been set up by illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Of the 25 villages, 16 were set up in Lunglei district, four in Aizawl district, three in Champhai district and two in Mamit district bordering Tripura, he said.

The villages were set up illegally by people who had entered the state without valid documents, he added. According to officials of local administration department, besides people from Bangladesh, illegal immigrants from Myanmar, Manipur and Tripura also reside in these villages.

State’s apex student body the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) had alleged that the unauthorised villages were set up by Bangladeshi immigrants of Chakma and Bru communities.

District council and minority affairs minister R. Lalzirliana had on Wednesday informed the house that there were no illegal villages in Chakma area since the formation of the new government headed by chief minister Zoramthanga.