Imphal, May 17: Even as the State has banned import of poultry products and pork from Myanmar following outbreak of avian flu in the neighbouring country and Bangladesh, there is no restriction at all on import of these products through Chingai sub-division of Ukhrul district.

Acting on reports of discovery of migratory birds' carcasses in the jungles of Poi and Huishu villages, along the border with Myanmar, a team of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department including this reporter went for a field visit to these villages.

There it was found that pigs and chickens were imported from Myanmar without any restrictions.

Despite the concerted effort of the State Government, district administration, police, army and Assam Rifles to check import of poultry products and pigs from Myanmar, traders from across the border come daily to Awang Khasom, Chingai, Ukhrul and other nearby villages to sell chickens and pigs in these villages.

They cross over to India through border pillar no 127 walking a distance of about 20 kms.

Chief of Poi village AS Patrick said that the chickens and pork brought by Myanmarese traders are also consumed by the AR personnel posted at Awang Khasom besides the villagers.

Concerning reports of discovery of carcasses of wild birds in the jungles of Poi and Huishu, the Poi villagers informed that they came across the carcasses some months back but they did not find any carcass of the birds these days.

The Veterinary and Animal Husbandry team which included Dr Ng Luithui and Dr Ng Ibotombi collected blood samples from 25 chickens reared at different households.

The blood samples will be sent to Bhopal for laboratory verification.

The team too did not come across the carcass of any wild or migratory bird.

Stopping for two days at Poi, the team conducted awareness programmes about bird flu.

Dr Ibotombi educated the villagers on the precautionary measures against bird flu, the ways and means of spreading the disease and the possible risk of importing chicken and pigs from Myanmar.

The village headman AS Patrick assured that they would resolve to prohibit import of chicken and pigs from Myanmar.

The Myanmarese traders will also be told not to bring these items, he assured.