How a trade hub in Manipur, near Indo-Myanmar border, is checking entry of Rohingyas

The Manipur government has opened a police outpost at Tusom, a village along the Manipur-Myanmar border in Ukhrul, to stop Rohingya refugees from entering the state.

Imphal, Oct 14: As Rohingyas continue to flee from Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh, India, especially the Northeast region of the country, has been on a high alert to check any infiltration of illegal immigrants as the entire region shares porous border both with Myanmar and Bangladesh.

According to reports, the Manipur government has recently opened a police outpost at Tusom, a village along the Manipur-Myanmar border in Ukhrul district, to stop Rohingya refugees from entering the state.

"We have opened one police outpost at Tusom, a vulnerable village in Ukhrul district so as to maintain strict vigil against any attempt by Rohingyas to cross over to Manipur," an official was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

The police outpost was opened last week. The outpost has a company of Manipur Rifles and police personnel to guard the border areas near the village.

However, the Manipur government maintains that so far no illegal infiltration of Rohingyas has taken place in the state. But the outpost was opened to thwart any entry of illegal Rohingyas from Myanmar to Manipur.

Moreover, intelligence reports, also did not mention any movement of Rohingyas close to the Manipur border. However, security agencies are not taking any chances.

The village of Tusom has always been a popular trade hub for Myanmarese nationals. Thus people from Myanmar on a regular basis keep on entering and leaving the village for trade-related purposes.

Tusom is located nearly 200km from Imphal, the capital city of Manipur, and 115km from Myanmarese town of Somrah.

Thus, those who come to Tusom from Myanmar for work purpose have to show valid documents before getting permission to enter India.

Two districts of Manipur, Ukhrul and Kamjong, share a 200km border with Myanmar. Thus Manipur is on a high alert to restrict entry of illegal immigrants from Myanmar. There are nearly 50 Manipur villages along the Myanmar border. The district administration identified six vulnerable villages along this border.

Reports suggest that the state government is working on opening another police outpost at Behiang, a village in Churachandpur district which is also close to the Myanmar border.

The entire Northeast region shares more than 4,500 km of border with Bangladesh, China, Myanmar and Bhutan. The states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share 1,643 km border with Myanmar. Hardly, the Indo-Myanmar border areas are being fenced or well-guarded.

Moreover, India also has a porous border with Bangladesh, where most of the Rohingyas are currently fleeing to from their homeland. India also fears that Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh might enter the Northeast region through the porous Indo-Bangladesh border.

OneIndia News