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Imphal, October 26 (IANS): Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Sunday stressed the need to deploy adequate police and security personnel along the interstate border with Mizoram to stop the influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar.
Churachandpur and Phirzawal districts of Manipur share about 95 kilometers of inter-state border with the neighboring state of Mizoram. Both Manipur and Mizoram share 398 km and 510 km long unfenced borders with Myanmar respectively, which are prone to illegal infiltration, cross-border movement and large-scale smuggling.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event, the former Chief Minister said that most of the refugees currently taking shelter in Mizoram had fled there after the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021.
“The case of Manipur is different as infiltration from Myanmar has been going on for a long time. Strict security measures should be taken along the Manipur-Mizoram interstate border to prevent any fresh transfer of Myanmar refugees from Mizoram to Manipur,” Singh said.
His comments come after the Mizo Students Union urged the Mizoram government to immediately dismantle villages allegedly established illegally by immigrants from Myanmar. About 31,300 Myanmar refugees are currently taking shelter in designated camps as well as with relatives and in rented houses across all 11 districts of Mizoram.
“If the Mizoram government dismantles the illegal villages occupied by Myanmar, what will happen next? Since Manipur shares its border with Mizoram, who will stop and stop the influx of illegal immigrants driven out of Mizoram?” The former Chief Minister asked.
Singh further said that state police personnel, including Naga, Meitei and Kuki, should be deployed along the Mizoram-Manipur border to prevent infiltration. He also said that he would soon request Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to deploy state forces on the border with Mizoram to stop any influx of illegal migrants.
“I want the entire Manipur to be united on issues related to illegal immigrants and drugs,” Singh said.
Before resigning as chief minister on February 9, Singh was vocal against illegal infiltration from Myanmar.
He had said on several occasions that Myanmar migrants are involved in illegal poppy cultivation in government and reserved forest lands and large-scale drug smuggling across the border.
–IANS
SC/UK