Aizawl, March 27: Authorities in Mizoram have detained two foreign nationals, one from Russia and another from the Slovak Republic for entering the state without the mandatory Protected Area Permit (PAP), a senior police officer confirmed Friday.

The 58-year-old Slovak citizen was apprehended by Assam Rifles in Siaha district near the Indo-Myanmar border on March 24. He was deported to his country on Friday. The Russian national, a 41-year-old cyclist, was intercepted by the Border Security Force in Mamit district near the Tripura border the following day. He is currently in Aizawl and will be deported once flight arrangements are finalized.

Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) H. Ramthlengliana said both men possessed valid visas and passports but lacked the PAP required for foreign nationals, except Bhutanese citizens to enter sensitive border states such as Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur.

Officials said the Slovak man had traveled from Thailand to Kolkata before reaching Mizoram, intending to join a water festival in Myanmar’s Chin state. The Russian cyclist confessed he was unaware of the PAP requirement when he entered Mizoram by bicycle from Agartala.

The PAP system is designed to regulate foreign access to sensitive border regions, particularly those adjoining Myanmar, China, and Bangladesh, due to security and strategic concerns.