Correspondent
Manipur, a state in northeastern India, has taken significant steps to deal with the recent entry of 718 Myanmar nationals, including 301 children, into its territory. These individuals arrived in Manipur's Chandel district on July 22 and 23, seeking refuge from the unrest prevailing in Myanmar, their home country.
The Assam Rifles, a Border Guarding Force, brought attention to this "fresh illegal influx" of Myanmar nationals along the Indo-Myanmar border. Consequently, the Manipur government has swiftly acted to address the situation, fearing potential international implications and the impact on law and order in the region.
To handle the issue effectively, the Manipur government has instructed Assam Rifles to promptly deport the newly arrived Myanmar nationals. The authorities are also seeking a detailed report from Assam Rifles to understand how these individuals managed to enter India without proper travel documents. This move comes in line with previous directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, emphasizing the need to prevent the entry of Myanmar nationals without valid visas or travel documents.
The situation has added to the existing tensions between two communities in Manipur, namely the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi. The matter of "illegal immigration" from Myanmar has become a contentious issue, further straining relations between the groups.
Contrastingly, the neighboring state of Mizoram has displayed a different approach by providing shelter to over 35,000 refugees from Myanmar, despite instructions from the central government to refrain from doing so.
In response to the challenge of addressing "illegal immigrants," Manipur has established a Population Commission to effectively identify and manage the situation. The state government's firm resolve to deport the Myanmar nationals demonstrates its commitment to maintaining law and order and dealing with the complexities arising from the ongoing unrest in the neighboring country.