A Chin national Lal Chanhlima is being held in Champhai police station in Mizoram state of northeast India on suspicion of having a connection with the killing of a Burmese soldier in Chin state, Burma on September 23.

"One person is being detained in the police station in connection with the murder of a Burmese soldier but I don't know the details," said an officer from the police station in Champhai.

On October 7, youth of Vaphai village in Champhai district tried to detain three Burmese nationals but two escaped. Lalchanhlima was detained and was handed over to Champhai police station.

"They are not sure if Lalchanhlima had killed a Burmese soldier or not. They arrested him only on suspicion," a local in Vaphai village said.

On September 23, a Lance Corporal of the Burmese Army on duty monitoring activities of smugglers was murdered in a jungle near Leilet village in Falam Township in Chin state. The Burmese military authorities suspected the killing was at the behest of smugglers who crossed the Indo-Burma border from Chin state to Mizoram state.

Lieutenant Colenel Htey Win of the Burmese Army on October 4 met Lalthanawia, Superintendent of Police Champhai district in a border village Zokhawthar relating to the killing of the Burmese soldier.

At the meeting, Htey Win asked Lalthanawia to investigate whether suspected smugglers are taking refuge in Mizoram, according to Vaiglaini, local newspaper published in Aizawl, capital of Mizoram.

S.P Lalthanawia, after talking to the Burmese officer directed the police to find out if the suspected smugglers from Burma were in Mizoram. He said he would repatriate the smugglers if they were arrested.

However, the police are still hesitating to hand over Lalchanhlima to the Burmese authorities.

"We have heard that the Burmese authorities are demanding that the arrested Burmese be handed over to them but Mizo authorities are reluctant," a local who is close to police in Champhai said.