Two American nationals were detained at the Lengpui airport in Mizoram’s Aizawal on May 2 and were sent back to Delhi on Saturday, reports The Hindu.
The two had arrived in Mizoram as they wanted to visit the refugee camps of the Bawm community, a senior government official told the Indian English daily on Saturday.
The US citizens (names being withheld) are said to be associated with Tearfund, an organisation which works with local churches and Christian organisations in more than 50 countries.
“The man and the woman were detained at the Lengpui airport and were sent back to Delhi,” said the official, adding that none of them had a protected area permit (PAP) to enter the State.
On December 17, 2024 the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had reimposed Protected Area Regime in Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram to monitor the movement of foreigners amid “growing security concerns arising out of influx from neighbouring countries.” The relaxation was withdrawn after a gap of 14 years.
According to the Protected Area Regime guidelines, a foreigner is not encouraged to visit the protected areas unless there are “extraordinary reasons to justify a visit.”