Not an inch of border fenced, says Kamjong DC
Kamjong safe point for infiltrators
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, November 29 2023: Kamjong district has become an open corridor for infiltrators to sneak into Indian territory, said Kamjong Deputy Commissioner Rang Peter.

The Deputy Commissioner made this statement a day after he said over 1,000 Myanmar Nationals are currently taking shelter at Phaikoh, Kheronram (Huimin Thana), Namlee, Wanglee and Ashang Khullen in Kamjong district.

He had raised concern that the number of refugees may increase manifold in the next couple of days as Myanmar military Junta continue to crackdown on rebel groups.

Rang Peter said the entire Kamjong district bordering Myanmar has not been fenced and as such, infiltrators find it easy to intrude and sneak into the Indian side.

Not an inch of border fenced, says Kamjong DC

When this correspondent interacted with the Deputy Commissioner regarding the issue of border fencing, he said not a centimetre of fencing has been done in Kamjong district.

Rang Peter said Kamjong district shares a 104 Km long stretch of border with Myanmar from Border Pillar No 90 in Namlee area under Kasom block to Kachouphung village BP No 112 under Sahamphung Block.

Ukhrul and Kamjong share a 165 Kilometre stretch of border with Myanmar from Namlee to Tusom village in Ukhrul district.

He said the lack of a proper border fence in Kamjong is the main problem facing the district administration in preventing illegal immigrants from crossing over to the India side.

The crackdown of the military on rebel groups in Myanmar border villages has triggered mass influx of Myanmar Nationals into Manipur.

Over 1000 are currently taking shelter in some villages in Kamjong.

More are believed to be hiding in nearby forests.

The number of refugees may increase, said the Deputy Commissioner.

Even though the border is porous and lacking fences, he informed that the Assam Rifles are manning the border region to check cross border movement of illegal immigrants.

He said the 8 AR and 24 AR of Kamjong and Kasom Block are guarding the border region.

Even though the free movement regime, which permits people living on both sides of the border to travel 14 Kilometres inside the other country without Visa has been restricted by the Government, it has not restricted the flow of refugees from Myanmar.

Amid the intensified fighting between Myanmar military and rebel groups, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has recently issued travel advisory for Indian Nationals.

All Indian Nationals have been advised to avoid non-essential travel to Myanmar and those who are already in Myanmar have been advised to register with the Indian Embassy in Yangon.