Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma demanded Mizo Territorial Army (MTA) for curbing cross-border narcotics smuggling.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma in an attempt to combat the growing menace of drug trafficking along the porous Indo-Myanmar border, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and reiterated the state’s long-standing demand to raise the Mizo Territorial Army (MTA). The proposed unit would focus on curbing cross-border narcotics smuggling and bolster security in vulnerable frontier regions, officials said on Saturday.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted the severe manpower shortages faced by the state in dealing with the escalating inflow of illegal drugs and contraband from Myanmar. Lalduhoma urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to grant approval for the formation of the MTA, a force equipped with local knowledge and terrain familiarity, to intensify border surveillance and anti-narcotic operations.
“Given Mizoram’s 510 km long unfenced border with Myanmar and 318 km border with Bangladesh, the state is particularly vulnerable to narcotics smuggling. The MTA will act as a dedicated frontline defence against drug inflow,” said an official familiar with the discussions.
CM Pu @Lal_Duhoma met Union HM @AmitShah Shah in Delhi yesterday. HM lauded Mizoram as one of India’s most peaceful states. Key issues discussed: Bana Kaih Scheme, Lengpui Airport, depreciated cost of buildings & Infra in AR land, refugee portal, and Mizo Territorial Army. pic.twitter.com/DH5HX1o3W6
— CM Office Mizoram (@CMOMizoram) May 24, 2025
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The Mizoram government has already submitted detailed proposals to the Centre on the formation of the MTA, with the hope that a specialised and locally staffed force would help plug gaps left by limited central forces and state police capacities.
In a parallel development, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is also stepping up its presence in the state. NCB Director General Anurag Garg recently met Chief Minister Lalduhoma and proposed the establishment of a full-fledged zonal office in Mizoram. The DG stressed the importance of deploying officials with knowledge of the local language and social landscape, given the complexity of ground realities in border districts.
Lalduhoma, a former IPS officer himself, welcomed the initiative and discussed actionable strategies to counter the drug trade, including youth-focused rehabilitation and awareness campaigns.
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Key smuggling routes pass through six border districts — Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip. Champhai, in particular, has emerged as a hub for methamphetamine tablets, foreign cigarettes, arms, ammunition, and even exotic wildlife, making it critical for coordinated enforcement efforts.
In addition to anti-narcotics concerns, the Chief Minister also raised other vital issues with the Union Home Minister, including the state’s flagship livelihood programme, the Bana Kaih Scheme (Handholding), the development of Lengpui Airport, and compensation for depreciated infrastructure built on former Assam Rifles land in Aizawl.
It may be recalled that on March 15, after years of negotiation, the Assam Rifles complex in Aizawl was officially handed over to the Mizoram government. The force has since relocated to Zokhawsang, around 15 km from the capital, marking the culmination of a demand first raised in 1988 after a deadly clash that claimed the lives of 11 civilians.
As drug networks across the India-Myanmar corridor become more sophisticated, the Mizoram government’s renewed push for localised enforcement and central support appears to be gaining momentum. If approved, the Mizo Territorial Army could become a pioneering model for state-led paramilitary engagement in cross-border narcotics control.
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