Lawngtlai ban on sale or purchase of land by Myanmarese, B'deshis

Aizawl: Senior revenue and settlement officer of land revenue & settlement, Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC), A Zaithanga issued a notification on Tuesday banning purchase and sale of land by foreigners from Myanmar and Bangladesh living in Lawngtlai district.

The notification said the LADC administration has received information from the home affairs ministry that there is cross border influx from Myanmar and Bangladesh in Lawngtlai district as well as displaced people from both the countries taking shelter in the district. Both illegal migrants and displaced people seeking refuge are lodged in 50 relief camps within Lawngtlai district.

"It has come to the knowledge of the authorities that some of the illegal migrants and displaced people (refugees) have purchased land for farming and building houses and are permanently settling in some areas. It is against the law of the land for foreigners to own lands in Indian soil. It is notified that no foreigners whether illegal migrants or refugees can own land by purchasing or acquiring my any means," Zaithanga said.

Meanwhile, unofficial trade continues from Lawngtlai district to Rakhine state of Myanmar via Paletwa township in southern Chin state, sources in Lawngtlai town told TOI on Tuesday. The trade continued from May 20 despite ban on cross-border trade by the district authorities from May 16 for fear of shortage of essential items because of India-Pakistan conflict.