The Manipur Government has ordered an investigation into how the illegal immigrants entered the state and act against the infiltrators.
(Image used for representational purpose)
The state government has asked for a detailed report from the Assam Rifles, the border security force in the Northeast on how could this number of immigrants entered the state under their watch. As reported by the Assam Rifles, around 718 Myanmar nationals have entered the Chandel district in Manipur in two days, i.e on July 22nd and July 23rd.
The Manipur administration, led by Chief Minister Biren Singh, stated that the matter of fresh migrants infiltration will be handled with the utmost concern considering the international ramification and the state’s present law and order. The government has also urged that the 718 unlawful Myanmarese immigrants be deported promptly.
In the midst of ongoing tensions in Manipur, due to the ethnic clash between the valley- majority Meiteis and the hill-majority Kuki tribe, the state government is bothered if the infiltrators brought arms and ammunition as there is no proper record of them entering the state.
Manipur Violence
The Manipur violence has been the talk of the country since the day it broke out on May 3, wherein about 150 people have been killed and thousands of people internally displaced. There is still a long way for the violence to settle in and the state reverting to its original status. The state has been without internet for two months now.
Under such conditions, illegal immigration of Myanmar nationals is sensitised and the Government has sought a thorough report from the Assam Rifles, to address the facts and reasoning for allowing 718 Myanmar citizens to enter India in the Chandel region without the required travel credentials, said Manipur chief Secretary Vineet Joshi in a statement.
Immigrants
Among the 718 Myanmar nationals who intruded into the state, 209 are males, 301 are children and 208 are women. They have entered into Chandel district due to the ongoing clashes at Khampat between the Army and the civil forces in the country. The immigrants are now staying in seven locations in the district.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Venkata Ravi Kiran J, 38 illegal immigrants came to Bonse, 89 to New Samtal, 230 to New Lajang, 143 to Yangnomphai village, 175 to Yangnomphai saw mill, and 30 to Aivomjang, the villages adjacent to the Myanmar border.
Source: NDTV
According to Joshi, the chief secretary, the state government has directed the Assam Rifles, a border guarding force, to take stringent measures to prohibit Myanmar people from entering Manipur on any grounds without a valid visa and travel papers, in accordance with Union Ministry of Home Affairs instructions.
The government directed the Chandel district deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police to look into the matter and also keep biometrics and photographs of the Myanmar nationals.
Military takeover in Myanmar
Meanwhile, following Myanmar’s military takeover in February 2021, many of Myanmarese fled to Mizoram, with around 35,000 men, women, and children from that nation currently residing in the hilly state. Around 5,000 Myanmarese have previously sought refuge in Manipur.
On the morning of 1 February 2021, democratically elected members of Myanmar’s ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), were overthrown by the Tatmadaw, the country’s military, which then vested power in a military junta.
Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, the political, economic, and humanitarian situation in Burma has worsened, with about 3,000 people murdered, nearly 17,000 arrested, and more than 1.5 million displaced, according to reports.
Manipur has a 400-kilometre unfenced border with Myanmar, whereas Mizoram has a 510-kilometre border with Myanmar.
