A local man was seriously injured on the Indian side of the country’s border with Burma after stepping on a landmine in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai District this week.
The incident occurred on Monday in the ethnic Chakma autonomous council area. The victim was Biranda Kumar, from Bangdukbanga village. He has since undergone the amputation of one of his legs, one of his friends told Khonumthung.
“He stepped on a landmine while traveling in the jungle. The landmine was not so strong—that’s why he only got injuries [and wasn’t killed].
His leg was cut off at the hospital,” B. John, a friend of the victim, said.
The villagers are unsure of which armed group set up the landmines in the area, but note that in the past, landmines were linked to the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), which is signatory to Burma’s Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the government and military.
“This landmine seemed to be aged. ALP forces were based in the area in the past, and local people often step on landmines in the area,” B. John said.
Another man, Jitua Tongchongya, from Bangdukhanga village was seriously injured by a landmine on January 15 of last year.
Three days later, an individual from the village of Kawn was killed in a similar explosion.
The Chin Human Rights Organization reported that Aung Lun, aged 45, from Paletwa Township in southern Chin State was killed by a landmine while being forced to guide Burma Army troops to the front line with the Arakan Army on February 25, 2019.
