Relocate or deport refugees, TNAL urges Amit Shah

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 20: The Tangkhul Naga Aze Longphang (TNAL) has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to either relocate or deport illegal immigrants from border areas of Kamjong district for the safety of the local residents and Myanmarese immigrants.
Underscoring the challenges posed by the continuous influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar, the TNAL dispatched a representation to the Union Home Minister on Sunday.
Kamjong district is a newly created district and it shares 120 Kms long international boundary with Myanmar.
Since a full scale conflict erupted between the People’s Defence Force (PDF) and ruling military junta in November 2023 in the Sagaing region of Myanmar, there has been continuous influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar.
Since November 2023, the number of registered illegal immigrants have crossed 6000, out of which biometrics of 5173 have been captured.
They are being sheltered in refugee camps within Kamjong district and the district administration has been providing them basic needs like foodgrains, water, power supply, roofing and other facilities, the TNAL said in their letter.
According to their representation addressed to the Union Home Minister, Phaikoh village has 1591 refugees, Shangkalok/Khen-roram, Huimin Thana-661, Skippe-356, Pilong-595, Aloyo & Choro-414, Wang-lee-570, Namlee-1087 and K Ashang Khullen Aze-375.      
Ever since the announcement of scrapping the Free Movement Regime (FMR), security forces guarding the border have stopped/restricted the movement of people and goods from India to Myanmar.
However, the influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar has been continuing till date even after scra- pping of the FMR, it said.
The TNAL also asked if the scrapping of FMR was meant only for the Indians.
Pointing out that the illegal immigrants have outnumbered local residents at several border villages of Kamjong, it said that the situation is quite tense and it can spark large scale violence any time.
The TNAL then urged the Union Home Minister to either relocate the illegal immigrants outside Kamjong district or deport them to their country at the earliest so as to avoid another unrest in the State of Manipur.    
A copy of the same representation was also submitted to the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary of Manipur.