Frightening demographic changes at Kamjong ; Immigrants outnumber local residents
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 13 2024: Informing that immigrants from Myanmar have outnumbered local residents at Kamjong, MLA Leishiyo Keishing has urged Chief Minister N Biren to deport the refugees/immigrants to their native country or find a suitable place to shelter them under strict supervision.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, the MLA representing Phungyar Assembly Constituency pointed out that the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar has resulted in continuous influx of illegal immigrants from the neighbouring country since November 2023.Of late, the total number of immigrants has crossed 5800 and biometrics of 5173 persons have been captured under the initiative of Kamjong district administration.

According to Leishiyo Keishing's letter written on May 9, there are 1591 immigrants at Phaikoh, 661 at Shangkalok/Khenroram/H Thana, 356 at Skippe, 595 at Pilong, 414 at Aloyo and Choro, 512 at Wanglee, 971 at Namlee and 357 at K Ashang Khullen Aze.

They are given accommodation in shelter homes opened at these villages under the supervision of the State Government and they are being provided with basic needs like foodgrains, water, power supply, even roofings and other essential commodities.

However, many untoward incidents have been reported where local residents were beaten up over tussles on daily wages and domestic issues in which local law enforcing agencies find difficulties to apprehend and control such situations due to the limited number of police personnel stationed in the border area, the MLA wrote.

Leishiyo Keishing said that even local customary law cannot control/bind them because of the foreign customary practices and beliefs of the refugees.

There have been incidents of killing and kidnapping of local residents by the immigrants but the culprits could not be apprehended as they abscond and cross the border where neither customary law nor Indian law could be enforced, the local MLA said.

He appealed to the Chief Minister to take up necessary measures urgently and make an arrangement to deport the refugees to their native country or find a suitable place to shelter them under strict supervision.

The MLA urged the Chief Minister to ensure that the history of granting Indian citizenship to immigrants of 1968 is not repeated so as to avoid the current situation/crisis in the future.

He further urged the Chief Minister to increase the number of armed police stationed in the border areas of Kamjong.

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