Imphal: The Indian government Friday deported at least eight Myanmar nationals who fled to Manipur after fighting erupted between the Military junta and nationalist militant groups in October last year.
Friday’s deportation was the first batch of a total of 77 Myanmar nationals who will be deported to the eastern neighbouring country in a couple of days, an official of the Manipur government said.
They are among some 2200 people who crossed into the Indian state of Manipur a couple of months back after fighting erupted between the Myanmar military government and NUG with the support of other ethnic minorities since October 31.
All the eight female refugees – Zar Zar, San San, Phyo Phyo Aye, Mi Zar, Santaidun, Swe Swe, San San and San Yee – were airlifted by a helicopter of Global Vectra Helicorp and was led by N Sanajaoba Singh, Inspector of CID/SB, Manipur and Albert Yumnam, Sub Inspector of CID/SB, Manipur from the Imphal International airport around 10 pm on Friday.
Earlier, a notification issued by the State Home Department said that in case they escape from the custody of these officials accompanied them “they may be arrested without warrant by any person who shall without undue delay deliver them to the nearest police station and those arrested shall be liable for committing an offence under section 224 of the Indian Penal Code”.
It may be noted that the deportation of illegal immigrants from Myanmar comes within weeks of the decision to scrap the Indo-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR) by the Indian government to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of the country’s northeastern region bordering Myanmar.
India and Myanmar share an unfenced 1, 643 km-long border and people on either side have familial and ethnic ties, which had initially prompted the arrangement. A 1968 government notification limited the free movement of people up to 40 km on either side of the border, however, it was reduced to 16 km in 2004.
On the other hand, BJP’s N Biren Singh-led government in Manipur had been demanding scrapping of the FMR regime given the ethnic clashes between the Meities and Kuki-Zo communities since May 3 last year.
The State government believes that large-scale illegal immigration from Myanmar was stoking tension and the present unrest in Manipur. Interestingly, Nagaland and Mizoram which share the border with Myanmar have strongly opposed the move to scrap the FMR claiming that the move will sever ethnic ties.
