In a significant crackdown, Indian security forces seized a large cache of explosives near the Indo-Myanmar border in Mizoram. On Wednesday, Assam Rifles (AR) and Mizoram Police arrested two men at a mobile vehicle check post. They discovered that the men were transporting 9,600 gelatin sticks, 9,400 detonators, and 1,800 meters of Cordtex, all materials commonly used for explosives. Authorities believe these items were intended for Myanmar’s anti-junta resistance groups, specifically the People’s Defence Force (PDF). The PDF has been fighting against Myanmar’s military junta since the 2021 coup.
The operation was based on specific intelligence about the movement of explosives along the border. The seizure follows increasing surveillance efforts by Assam Rifles to curb cross-border smuggling, especially following reports that PDF personnel have been attempting to transport explosives and illegal goods. This is the second such operation in recent months, with a similar seizure of 39,000 detonators from a hideout near the Tiau River last month.
India shares a 1,643-km border with Myanmar, and the region has seen a rise in smuggling activities, partly due to restrictions placed by the Manipur government on the movement of vehicles between India and Myanmar. The Centre is addressing these security concerns by constructing a fence along the border, with at least 30 km completed so far, aimed at curbing illegal trade and the movement of weapons and drugs.
