Silchar, March 15: The Mizoram government has expressed concern over the unabated influx of Myanmarese nationals across the border in search of jobs and land to settle down. Over the past few years, infiltration from the military-ruled nation has increased considerably.

Home minister Tawnluia expressed concern over infiltration from Myanmar during the budget session of the state Assembly on Tuesday.

Myanmarese nationals may from time to time secure entry permits from four bordering police outposts in Mizoram ? Zokhawthar, Thingsal, Lungbun and Phura ? for a short duration of stay in the state.

Tawnluia said as many as 4,071 Myanmarese nationals were given short-duration entry passes for jobs between March 2004 and June 2005 when the practice of border-hopping was temporarily suspended.

The home minister said that these foreigners, most of whom were fortune hunters, were overstaying their entry permits, which were valid only for a month.

Intelligence sources in Aizawl pegged the number of such infiltrators in Mizoram at 25,000.

The Bru repatriation issue is also likely to be discussed tomorrow, as four NGOs of the state ? the Young Mizo Association, Mizo Upa Pawl, Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl and Mizo Zirlai Pawl, ? are expected to call on Union home minister Shivraj Patil in New Delhi.

The joint forumx of the NGOs said Bru repatriation in an unchecked manner would lead to a demographic imbalance in the state.

Communal clashes between Mizos and Brus had led to the exodus of 36,000 Brus to relief camps in Tripura. The Mizoram government has agreed to repatriate nearly 11,000 of the Bru refugees as residents of the state.