Myanmar PDF members arrested in Manipur, state issues notice against arrest of illegal immigrants

Imphal: Manipur Police arrested two members of Myanmar resistance group People Democratic Forces (PDF), magistrate of Tengnoupal, Indo-Myanmar border district of Manipur issued a notification that illegal immigrants will not be arrested or detained and they will be extended all humanitarian assistance temporarily till they are properly being deported or any further decision as regard to them is taken up by the competent central and state government authorities.

The two Myanmar revolutionaries were arrested on Sunday when a team of police special commando team, Moreh (a border commercial town in Tengnoupal) acted on an information that some underground organisation illegal immigrant and drug smugglers were loitering in and around border area of BP-79 to BP-80.

The police team conducted frisking and checking at the Indo-Myanmar border near Jangnoi Village.

One Kenbo Bike with three occupants were seen coming from BP-79 side towards BP-80. At this the combined CDO team shouted to stop for checking. However, the Bike speed up and tried to fled away. Then the combined CDO team chased and over powered the two pillion rider while the Kenbo rider managed to escaped taking the advantage of the thick jungle, a police report said.

The duo identified themselves as Neipaing, 38, son of Utaschai of Tamu Thauyuwate Myanmar and Yeyint Aung, 35, son of Uphapha of Tamu, Myanmar an active members of the outfit PDF, Myanmar based derground organisation. They are presently working under the command of Usonai of PDF, it added.

Usonai had given an assignment at H. Mongyang village along with their colleague to perform a task including information collection of the movement of securty forces, the report said.

On checking the Individuals one live round of 9mm ammunition, two live rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one mobile phone, one black small handbag along with 100 Kyat ( Myanmar currency) inside the bag recovered from Neipaing; and one mobile phone, one Kenbo Bike without registration number and 10,000 Kyat were recovered from Yeyint Aung, it added.

A notification issued by Tengnoupal district magistrate on this date stated that it has been brought to the notice of the state government about the apprehension of the general public on the issues of the influx of illegal immigration across Indo-Myanmar border which warrants the state government to take up immediate steps for proper identification and preventing them from naturalization amongst the native population.

Therefore, as a part of the special drive of verification and checking of illegal immigrants taken up by the state government, a special drive of verification and checking of illegal immigrants is going on in the district; the general public are directed to report to the respective Police stations, law enforcing agencies and security agencies in the district in case if any one identified or suspected to be a Myanmar national is detected or found living in their respective villages; facilities for providing temporary accommodation, food, safety and medical helps are being developed at Haolenphai village;  such illegal immigrants will not be arrested or detained. They will be extended all humanitarian assistance temporarily till they are properly being deported or any further decision as regard to them is taken up by the competent central and state government authorities; in the event of any such case found, they should be reported without fail. Anyone or any Village Authority found harbouring or providing shelter without the permission of the government, stringent legal action as deemed fit shall be taken up as per law of the land and prosecuted, the notification said.

Given the escalating crisis in Myanmar following a coup in 2021 and the subsequent entry of several foreign Nationals in Manipur, the state government has decided to set up a temporary shelter home at Moreh to house the refugees on Monday.

On Sunday a team of legislators including Letpao Haokip, Thounaojam Basanta Kumar and Awangbow Newmai visited Haolenphai Village near Indo-Myanmar border and interacted with the refugees taking shelter there.

Top Manipur police officials and other government officials also took part in the visit.

Myanmar Army has been intensifying its attack on the resistance groups especially People Democratic Force since the past few days by carrying out airstrikes and torching its camp close to Border Pillar 81 on the Myanmar side, in which some PDF cadres were killed while one of the injured were treated at Moreh Hospital.

One of the refugees who is an MP, Thangsei Haokip, said they will return to Myanmar once there is normalcy in their native country. “We will return when there is normalcy.” He thanked the Manipur government them.