Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana today informed the state legislature that 598 foreigners were arrested for illegally crossing the international border during the last six years.
In a written reply to the question from Lalruatkima of the Mizo National Front (MNF), Lalzirliana said that the arrested 598 foreigners were convicted by the local courts and deported to their respective countries after completion of their sentences.
He said that the largest number of foreigners were arrested in 2010 at 228 while only 13 foreigners were nabbed during this year till August.
No refugees from foreign countries were reported during the last six years, he said.
Sandwiched between Myanmar and Bangladesh, Mizoram shares 722-km-long international border with the two countries.
He said that 4,426 foreigners visited the state during the same period and that the Protected Area Permit (PAP), restricting visits by foreigners to Mizoram and other scheduled areas in the country, was relaxed for the last five years.
In reply to another question, the home minister said that 5,305 non-tribals were arrested and convicted for staying in the state without valid Inner Line Permit (ILP) during trhe last six months and were pushed back to the neighbouring states.
He also said that 22,790 people were arrested and convicted for violation of section three of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 during the same period.
He added that ILP was issued to 62,578 non-tribal people during the same period.
