The Mizoram government has started collecting biometric details of refugees who have fled Myanmar in the wake of the 2021 military coup and ongoing conflict in the neighbouring country. While authorities state that the exercise is being carried out to regulate and document the large number of refugees, rights groups and experts have raised concerns that the move could place vulnerable individuals at further risk if the data is misused or shared with hostile entities.
Thousands of men, women, and children from Myanmar, particularly from the Chin State, have crossed into Mizoram over the past three years to escape persecution, military operations, and political repression by the junta. Mizoram, which shares a 510-kilometre border with Myanmar, has seen a steady influx of refugees, most of whom share ethnic and cultural ties with the local Mizo population.
According to officials, the biometric exercise includes the recording of fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs, alongside personal details such as names, addresses, and family information. State authorities argue that such documentation will help in ensuring better distribution of aid, preventing illegal activities, and maintaining updated records of refugee settlements.
However, refugee rights activists and security experts have sounded the alarm, cautioning that biometric data is highly sensitive and could be exploited if it falls into the wrong hands. They point out that the Myanmar junta has previously targeted dissidents, activists, and civilians critical of the military regime, and possession of such data could make refugees in India more vulnerable to surveillance and reprisals.
An expert on border security and digital rights observed that “biometric information, once compromised, cannot be changed like a password. If such records are leaked or shared under pressure, it could directly endanger the lives of those who fled Myanmar to escape persecution.”
Civil society organisations in Mizoram have also voiced concerns that the data collection exercise might discourage refugees from registering themselves, thereby pushing them further into invisibility and increasing their hardship in accessing humanitarian assistance. Many fear that lack of proper safeguards or legal clarity could expose refugees to forced repatriation or targeting by external actors.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma had earlier assured that the state would continue to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees from Myanmar, acknowledging the ethnic and kinship bonds shared across the border. Nonetheless, the ongoing biometric documentation has created a debate between the need for security regulation and the obligation to protect those fleeing oppression.
Observers note that the situation highlights a delicate balance India must maintain between domestic security requirements and international humanitarian obligations. Human rights organisations have urged both the state and central governments to establish strict safeguards on data storage and usage, and to ensure that biometric information is not shared in ways that could endanger refugees.