The Manipur government is seeking details from the border guarding force regarding how the “refugees” were allowed to enter the state “illegally”.
An official statement was issued by the Manipur Home Department on July 24th. In this statement, the State Government ordered the border guarding force to immediately push back the 718 Myanmar nationals who entered the state’s Chandel district “illegally” on July 22nd and 23rd.
Assam Rifle had earlier informed the Deputy Commissioner of Chandel district that a fresh influx of 718 refugees had crossed into New Lajang and a few other areas of Chandel district due to the “ongoing clashes” at Khampat, in Myanmar’s Chin State. According to a defence source, the 718 refugees include 301 children, 209 men, and 208 women. The border guarding force had also sought the Manipur government for a representative to be present at the “joint verification” of the illegal migrants.
Since the military coup began in Myanmar in February 2021, a total of about 40,000 refugees have crossed into Indo-Myanmar border and sought shelter in the state of Mizoram. The new tide of refugees fled to Manipur after a gunfight between the People’s Defence Forces (PDF) and the Myanmar Army continued for more than 2 days.
In exchange for Assam Rifle’s request for the presence of a government representative, the State’s Home Department questioned the border guarding force regarding the circumstances and the reasons that allowed so many migrants to enter the Chandel district without legal travel documents.
Manipur’s Chief Secretary Vineet Singh said that in light of the present law and order situation, Assam Rifles’ actions might have ramifications and the ripples of it might be felt even internationally. He also added that earlier about similar incidents of refugees crossing the border, the Assam Rifles had received clear information from the State Government to “take strict actions” on the entry of any Myanmar nationals into Manipur if they do not have a valid visa adhering to the conditions of Government of India’s Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Statement issued on Monday has ordered Assam Rifles to “immediately” “push back” the individuals. Manipur has always been strongly averted from sheltering the Burmese refugees. The State has even set up commissions to identify Myanmar nationals. In fact, in the statement issued on Monday, the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police in Chandel district has been asked to collect photographs and biometry of all the Myanmar nationals for future reference.
Mizoram, the order state on the Indo-Myanmar border however has been defying the Central Government’s instructions as they continue to provide shelter to all the immigrants fleeing from the military coup.
Refugee Influx partly responsible for the ethnic strife in Manipur
A violent strife broke out between the hill-dwelling Kuki and Naga tribes and the Meteis residing in Manipur’s valley area on May 3rd. The growing refugee population of Myanmar nationals had made the Meitei people quite insecure. Therefore, they started a motion toward attaining the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The mayhem broke out when the Kuki and Naga tribes opposed the Meitei’s demand.
The Meiteis constitute nearly 53% of the total population and belong to form the more privileged section of society. Moreover, earlier the CM of the State, N. Biren Singh who belongs to the Meitei community had accused the Kuki tribe of providing refuge to the Myanmar nationals.
Update on the viral video
Last week a video of May 4th from Manipur went viral on various social media platforms. It had violent visuals of Kuki women being paraded naked on the street in the Kangpokpi district while a group of Meitei men kept groping their private parts. The video has outraged the entire nation. The opposition parties in the Indian Parliament are demanding a valid statement the PM Modi. On ground level, the police have arrested 7 individuals who were in the video.
