Manipur: Government To Set Up Shelter Home For Myanmar Refugees

IMPHAL: The Manipur government is considering establishment of a temporary shelter house in the border town of Moreh to accommodate individuals who escaped conflict-torn Myanmar. 

There will be 5,000 immigrants housed there.  Three state ministers, Letpao Haokip, Awangbow Newmai, and Th. Basanta Singh, made up a ministerial delegation that travelled to Moreh, near the Myanmar border, to explore the potential location for the shelter home. 

An official stated that whenever the situation in Myanmar improves, the citizens of Myanmar will be given temporary housing in the shelter house before being deported to their country of origin. Imphal, the state capital, is 110 kilometres away from Moreh. 

According to reports, the ministerial team was informed by Myanmar MP Thangsel Haokip, who is also seeking refuge in Manipur, that they would like to seek refuge in Indian territory as the People's Defence Force (PDF) rebels and the Myanmar military continue to engage in violent clashes in the Saingang region of Myanmar, which borders the Indian states of Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram. 

In the midst of combat between the Burmese army and the rebel group, the Manipur government has sent out more security personnel and instructed the Assam Rifles to maintain a careful eye along the international boundary.

According to N. Biren Singh, the chief minister of Manipur, security has been stepped up along the border between India and Myanmar.

In the Tengnoupal district of Manipur, two active members of the People Defence Force (PDF), an underground group with ties to Myanmar, were detained. In response to intelligence reports, the Special Commando Unit in-charge and the Manipur police jointly performed frisking and checking at the border between India and Myanmar close to Jangnoi hamlet. 

The two were in possession of a weapon, some live rounds of ammunition, and Myanmar currency when the police carried out their operation.  Neipaing (38), a resident of Tamu Thauyuwate, and Yeyint Aung (35), a resident of Uphapha of Tamu, both of Myanmar, have been named as the two militants who have been detained. 

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