Security strengthened on India-Myanmar border, refugee influx into India

New Delhi/Aizawl: Common citizens of Myanmar have started intense protests following the military’s takeover of power, overthrowing the elected government. Inhuman action is being taken to crush the agitation; moreover, 50 people have died in one week. Against this background, a possibility is being predicted that there could be a major refugee influx into India from Myanmar. As per the received information, nearly 35 Myanmar citizens have entered India until now. Against this background, the security on the Myanmar border has been strengthened.

Foreign ministry spokesman, Anurag Srivastava, said that the situation in Myanmar is being monitored closely. India and Myanmar share a 510 kilometres long border and the Indian states of Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur lie on this border. The largest part of the border is in Mizoram. Fears are being expressed that many refugees will infiltrate through the Mizoram border. Only two days ago, it was reported that 19 Myanmar policemen entered Mizoram for asylum. They did not have any weapons. The report claimed that they said that they were tired of the situation in Myanmar and therefore, they have come to India.

There is a higher possibility that the refugees will infiltrate through the border in Champai and Sarchip district of Mizoram. But the official information regarding the number of refugees that have entered India has not been released. As per the information received from the home department officials, 16 people have come to India till date. These include 11 police officers. Whereas, the sources in Assam Rifles, responsible for the security of the Myanmar border, informed that 35 people have come to India to date.

Recently, nearly 100 Myanmar citizens attempted to infiltrate into India. Deputy commissioner of the Champai district, Maria CT Zuali, informed that the Assam Rifles soldiers stopped them. Simultaneously, senior officials in the Mizoram administration informed that the Myanmar government has written to Mizoram to deport the 8 policemen back to Myanmar. But the foreign ministry has not given clear information regarding the refugees coming from Myanmar. Foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said that the credentials of the refugees are being checked and the letter from the Myanmar government will be replied to, only after the process is completed. Srivastava added that India is keeping a close watch on the situation in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, fears of a refugee influx from Myanmar are being expressed in view of the unstable and disturbed situation there. Against this background, the security in the regions near the border with Myanmar has been strengthened. Brigadier Digvijay Singh, the Assam Rifles’ Inspector General, informed that the Assam Rifles has increased its patrolling in this area. Brigadier Singh also said that many people are trying to come to India. They have not been forced to back off. But they are firmly instructed that no one will gain illegal entry into India.