Aizawl: Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla on Tuesday asked the Centre to tighten security along the border with Myanmar as the state could face threats from the armed conflict between the Myanmar army and militants in Arakan state of that country.

Lal Thanhawla called on home minister Rajnath Singh and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Tuesday and discussed issues concerning the security arrangement and Myanmar refugees in Mizoram, an official statement said.

Lal Thanhawla informed Singh that Mizoram could face a security threat owing to the entry of refugees from Myanmar.

He asked the minister to deploy more security personnel along the border with Myanmar to avoid any untoward incident, the statement said.

The chief minister also asked Singh to include the strengthening of relations between indigenous communities here and in Myanmar in the agenda during proposed talks with Myanmar, the statement said.

In his meeting with Sitharaman, Lal Thanhawla spoke about the strategic location of Mizoram. The two leaders discussed various issues, including the construction of five roads by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and six roads by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) in the state.

Mizoram shares a 404km border with Myanmar and a 318km border with Bangladesh.

Mizoram saw an influx of over 1,400 refugees from Chin state in Myanmar, who are taking shelter at Hmawngbuchhuah village in Lawngtlai district. The displaced people fled their country following a crackdown launched by Myanmar army on Arakan Army militants. The refugees have been provided food and other relief materials by the district administration and locals.

Although some families have returned to their villages, over 1,000 people are reluctant to return to Myanmar fearing the armed struggle between the Myanmar army and militants may begin again.