Manipur: Myanmar nationals not staying in shelters and without proper identity to be arrested

During the Cabinet sub-committee's visit to the Gamphajol village in Chandel districtfor inspecting areas to set up shelter home for the Myanmar immigrants, Haokip said that Myanmar nationals without proper

Manipur Tribal Affairs & Hills Department minister Letpao Haokip, who is also the Chairman of the of Cabinet Sub-committee set up by the state government to look after the rehabilitation of Myanmar immigrants, has made a strong statement.

During the Cabinet sub-committee’s visit to the Gamphajol village in Chandel districtfor inspecting areas to set up shelter home for the Myanmar immigrants, Haokip said that Myanmar nationals without proper identity would be arrested anytime.

The Cabinet sub-committee chairman said,”They have to be in the shelter home. Rather than those who are not settling in the shelter home and they do not have any identity can be arrested anytime. Because they may be peddling drugs, or doing something wrong.”

Tribal Affairs minister Letpao Haokip added,”Out of no where someone comes down in the lane, we can’t agree. They are foreigners.”

However, Haokip maintained that,”But those who stay in shelter homes will be given protection and allowed for free movement.”

He further insisted and said,”So everyone who stay in a shelter home should be given protection by the police, by the army, by the officers and by the village authority.”

Meanwhile, education minister Th Basanta Kumar and member of the Cabinet Sub-committee pointed out that anyone found giving shelter to Myanmar nationals or anyone (Myanmar national) found staying back illegally will have to face the law.

He said,”They are here temporarily, they have to return. Not one single person will be allowed to stay back later on they should not as far as possible should not mix with the local population.

Announcements will be made in the villages that anybody who is harbouring or anyone who is illegally staying inside the village, that will not be tolerated.”

The Manipur education minister during his interaction with the Myanmar nationals and residents of Gamphajol village also maintained that identity cards and biometrics will be used to identify the Myanmar immigrants and also to ensure that they do not mix with the locals.

Th Basanta Kumar said,”They will be issued identity cards, there will be biometrics also. So, all these things will be done so that they dont mix with the villagers too much.” He further advised the Myanmar nationals to follow the necessary rules and regulations.

Besides, the minister and also member of the cabinet sub-committee highlighted that the Manipur government is ready to extend all assistance to the Myanmar nationals, who have sought refuge in different parts of Manipur after fleeing their very own conflict torn nation.

He said, “We are here to ensure safety and provide some sort of shelter by the Government of Manipur and in that I think the dept officials, the army, the police, we have a big role to construct the house, provide water, sanitation and whatever will be possible.”

As per inputs, a Shelter Camp which can accommodate 100 to 200 people will be established at the village with barbed fencing.

Food, Water and Electricity will be provided to all the Immigrants. One Officer from Chandel District Police will be stationed at the camp and police will be conducting regular patrolling in and around the Camp twice in a day. Immigration Department of Manipur Police will be making Identification Card with Biometric for Myanmar Immigrants in the Camp.

Earlier, the Cabinet Sub-committee had visited the Haolenphai village of Moreh sub-division in Tengnoupal district, to interact with the refugees taking shelter there and inspect areas of land to set up a shelter home. Cabinet sub-committee chairman Letpao Haokip had informed that the government was planning on construction of a shelter home and accomodate the Myanmar immigrants till the conflict ends (in Myanmar), after which that they can be pushed back to their own country.

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