Manipur government discusses with BRTF on Indo-Myanmar border fencing issue

IMPHAL: A day after the cabinet sub-committee members’ visit to the border areas for setting up of a temporary shelter home for the illegal immigrants, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh chaired a discussion with the Border Road Task Force (BRTF) officials in connection with the on-going Indo-Myanmar border fencing at Chief Minister’s secretariat on Monday, official sources said.

Confirming this in a Facebook post, Biren Singh wrote: “Chaired a discussion with BRTF on Indo-Myanmar Border fencing at my secretariat today.We will continue our efforts to secure our border between Manipur & Myanmar.”

Currently, border fencing works are underway in and around the Moreh town stretch of the Indo-Myanmar International boundary, covering a little more than 9 km.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of the Tengnoupal district that shares border with Myanmar, in a notification issued on Monday, directed the public to report to the respective police stations/law enforcing agencies/security agencies in the district if any one identified or suspected to be a Myanmar national is detected or found living in their respective villages.

“The facilities for providing temporary accommodation, food, safety and medical help are being developed by the government at Haolenphai village, Moreh sub-division, Tengnoupal district, Manipur,” the notification said.

“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.”

Anyone or any village authority found harbouring/providing accommodation/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, it cautioned.

On Sunday, the Cabinet Sub-committee chairman Letpao Haokip who is also the state’s Tribal Affairs and Hills minister along with ministers Awangbow Newmai (Water Resources) and Th Basanta Singh (Education & Law) and officials inspected an area for setting up of temporary shelter home at Haolenphai village. The Cabinet sub-committee was formed under the supervision of the Biren Singh to monitor the illegal immigration in the state.