The road which is about two-three feet wide links Sabawngte village in Matupi township in Chin state to Capui village in Saiha district in Mizoram state and was constructed by locals from rural areas in both countries under a self reliance programme without the approval of the military authorities.

Because the construction is illegal, Major Thein Win Myint from Light Infantry Battalion (304) recently posted in Sabawngte village in Matupi Township issued orders to destroy the road.

“The road on the Burma side is in a bad condition now. It is only two or three feet wide jus about enough to walk on”, said a local.

Moreover, the soldiers arrested village head U Li He and two other members of the Village Council and took them into custody for a night.

Later, the village head and the members were released after villagers paid Kyat 300,000 and 5 kilograms of pork to Major Thein Win Myint.

The so called illegal Indo–Burma road was constructed by locals from both countries to allow people from Mizoram state to go over to Burma to participate in the centenary ceremony that marked hundred years of the arrival of Christian missionaries among the Mara tribe in Chin state.

Mara’s centenary is to be held on November 12 in Sabawngte village.

The construction of the road was begun on the first week of November and completed in the end of November this year. – Khonumthung.