Police in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram state, northeast India on Tuesday arrested 42 Burmese refugees.

Thirty one Burmese nationals were arrested from two restaurants located in Aizawl Market. Nine were picked up from Zawngtui block of the capital. They were working in the handloom industry. Two drivers were detained from Bawngkawn block at around 9 pm.

Ten weavers and drivers were picked up at random by the concerned authorities, with the help of the employers on Wednesday morning.

The arrested will be prosecuted in Aizawl court and will be charged under the Foreigner’s Act of India and then will be pushed backed to Burma.

“We can pick up under 10 people, but it is impossible to pick up for more than 10 for the authorities to push them back to Burma. Mizoram authorities usually push back Burmese nationals after locking them up for the night at Bawngkawn block,” said a Burmese from Aizawl.

The 31 migrants detained first will be sent back to Burma after the trial by the court of in Aizwal.

Thousands of Burmese migrants in Mizoram work in businesses including at goldsmiths’ shops, car-care service centres, restaurants, clothing factories, in sales and road construction. Most of the refugees do odd jobs without legal status, making them vulnerable to arrest.