Volunteers of the Bilkhawthlir South local task force on COVID-19 in Kolasib district of Mizoram caught 21 migrant workers as they trying to sneak into neighbouring Assam around 10 pm on Saturday.
The migrant workers were reportedly staying in different localities in Aizawl.
Except for one, who is a resident of North Tripura, all were heading home in Karimganj district of Assam.
“They travelled on a truck from Aizawl. As the driver felt unsafe to carry them any longer, he dropped them near Kolasib. Then they took the jungle route, but were caught by the local volunteers,” said the Kolasib Superintendent of Police.
The persons were taken to the Kolasib Police Station on Saturday night. The decision on whether to send them back to Aizawl or to hand them over to the Karimganj district authorities will be taken later.
They will also undergo a screening.
The Kolasib SP said that in the past, drug addicts and alcoholics who tried to sneak into Assam gave them quite a bit of trouble.
In Vairengte town bordering Assam, over 100 such elements have been arrested and being quarantined. A few others are put in police lockups.
In Bairabi that also borders Assam, about 40 drug addicts who were caught trying to enter Assam are being quarantined.
