AIZAWL: Twenty-nine Myanmarese soldiers, who fled to Mizoram following intense gunfights with militia group People’s Defence Force (PDF), were sent back to their country on Sunday, an official said.

With these, a total of 74 Myanmar army personnel, who crossed over to India after their camps were overrun by militia groups in the recent gunfight, have been escorted back to their country, she said.

These 29 soldiers had entered Mizoram on November 16 after their camp at Tuibual in Myanmar’s Chin state, a few km from the international border, was overrun by Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) -- a local militia group affiliated with the PDF.

“These soldiers were airlifted by defence authorities to Moreh in Manipur. From Moreh, they went to Tamu, the nearest Myanmarese town,” the official said.

Incessant rains disrupted the process, which prolonged their stay in India, she added.

The Myanmarese soldiers came on foot to Saikhumphai in Mizoram’s Champhai district near Tiau river, the natural boundary between India and Myanmar, and were received by the Assam Rifles and state police, the official said. They were in the custody of Assam Rifles before they were sent back to their country, she said.

Earlier, 45 Myanmar soldiers, who fled to Mizoram after their camps were overrun by PDF, were sent back to their country.