Officials have reported that illegal immigrants from war-torn Myanmar were found building houses in Manipur's Tengnoupal district without informing state authorities. The settlement was discovered between border pillar numbers 82 and 89 by volunteers from the Maring tribe.
The Rilram Area Maring Organisation (RAMO) deployed volunteers following reports of a significant influx of Myanmar nationals into the Maring tribe's areas in Tengnoupal. RAMO's inspection of villages such as Chanringphai, Choktong, N Satang, and Sangtong under Lamlong Khunou circle revealed numerous illegal settlers constructing houses and other structures.
Illegal Immigrants From Myanmar Found Building Houses In Manipur's Border Area, Alleges Tribal Group.
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) June 17, 2024
At some areas, the infiltrators have outnumbered local tribals and indulge in fights
Several Naga civil bodies and organisations in Manipur last week asked Home Minister Amit… pic.twitter.com/2rEEstwq6L
On May 9, Naga People's Front (NPF) MLA Leishiyo Keishing wrote to Chief Minister N Biren Singh, highlighting that the number of illegal Myanmar nationals in eight villages had surpassed local populations, creating insecurity among residents. He also noted instances where these immigrants attacked villagers in Kamjong and Kasom Khullen subdivisions over minor disputes.
Several Naga civil bodies, including the United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women's Union (NWU), All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM), and Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPM-HR), urged Home Minister Amit Shah to repatriate the illegal immigrants. They submitted a memorandum following a fact-finding mission to border areas.
Despite the Centre's termination of the free-movement regime (FMR) along the Manipur section of the border, RAMO volunteers observed that Myanmar nationals continued to move across the border freely at night. The volunteers questioned whether border forces had informed local authorities about this ongoing issue. Officials admitted that the state government was unaware of the new settlement.
There is a consensus among central and state officials that illegal immigration from Myanmar has significantly contributed to the ethnic violence between the valley-dominant Meitei community and the Chin-Kuki-Zo tribes. In August 2023, Home Minister Amit Shah told the Lok Sabha that the influx of Chin-Kuki refugees, following a crackdown by Myanmar's military rulers in 2021, sparked fears of demographic changes in Manipur.
The Manipur government noted a significant rise in the population of illegal immigrants from Myanmar, who were found building houses and clearing forests. The ethnic clashes between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes were fueled by disputes over land, resources, affirmative action policies, and political representation. These tensions escalated, with over 220 people killed and more than 50,000 internally displaced.
The latest violence occurred in Jiribam, bordering Assam, where homes were burned following the murder of two individuals from the Meitei and Hmar communities. Both sides blamed each other for the incident. Leaders from the Hmar and Thadou tribes, however, distanced themselves from the violence. The Rongmei Naga tribes also opposed a 24-hour shutdown of National Highway 37 by Kuki groups in protest against the Jiribam violence, calling the shutdown "unwarranted."
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