Laungtlai–Paletwa:
Border trade between India’s Mizoram state and Myanmar’s Rakhine State has resumed following several days of closure triggered by security concerns surrounding the death of an Indian driver.
The gates linking Laungtlai district in Mizoram with Paletwa Township in Myanmar were reopened on 20 February after discussions between district authorities and representatives of the Arakan Army (AA), according to a Rakhine trader based in Laungtlai.
“The closed gates have been reopened. We can now travel normally,” the trader said.
Closure Following Driver’s Death
The India–Myanmar trade routes bordering Laungtlai district had been shut since 16 February after the body of a local driver was recovered near Paletwa. The closure order, initially set for two months, was issued by Laungtlai District Magistrate Donny Lalruatsanga, citing security concerns.
The deceased driver, identified as 37-year-old U Lal Ram Sanna from Laungtlai Township, reportedly went missing on 12 February while transporting goods to Shin Letwa village in Paletwa Township. His body was discovered on 15 February at the confluence of Sala Creek and the Kaladan River. The cause of death has not yet been publicly disclosed.
Vital Trade Corridor
The reopened routes are considered essential for the movement of food, medicine, fuel, and other basic commodities from India into Rakhine State. The temporary closure disrupted supply chains on both sides of the border, leading to financial losses for traders and shortages of essential goods for residents in parts of Rakhine.
Traders reported that the suspension of cross-border movement significantly affected livelihoods, particularly for small-scale merchants dependent on daily trade flows.
Dialogue Leads to Reopening
Following consultations between local Indian officials and AA representatives, authorities agreed to reopen the gates to restore commercial activity and ease supply constraints.
Observers note that the Laungtlai–Paletwa corridor remains strategically important not only for trade but also for humanitarian access, especially as conflict continues to affect large parts of western Myanmar.
With trade now resumed, stakeholders on both sides hope that improved coordination will prevent similar disruptions in the future while ensuring the safety of transport operators and local communities.
