Two Burmese soldiers who were carrying AK-47s were arrested by troops of the Assam Rifles in Champhai District, Mizoram, India, on July 3.
The Burmese soldiers identified as Myint Naing, 34, and Zaw Oo, 35, of Light Infantry Battalion 304, based in Falam Township, Chin State, were arrested after they tried to extort 100,000 Kyats (US $113.35) from two- traders.
The two soldiers were arrested after the traders complained to Indian soldiers at a nearby base. The Burmese soldiers were demanding taxes for six cows that were being transported from Burma for sale in Mizoram.
Currently the Burmese soldiers are in custody at the Champhai police station, according to local police.
“The Burmese soldiers were arrested while waiting for the traders to bring them money to a house in Ngur,” said a Champhai police commander.
They are being held for illegally crossing the border and extortion.
Burmese authorities have requested to Mizoram authorities to return the two soldiers but at this point it’s not known what will happen to them, said the Champhai police post commander.
It’s common for Burmese soldiers patrolling the Burma-Indian border to extort money from traders and even local people. There have been cases where Burmese soldiers have kidnapped people demanding a ransom for their release.
