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In response to the military crackdown on rebel groups in Myanmar’s border villages, approximately 2,260 individuals from Myanmar sought refuge in Manipur’s Kamjong district in the past few days, as confirmed by officials on Monday.
A senior district official stated, “As of December 10, about 2,260 refugees have taken shelter in Kamjong district, and about 1,778 biometrics have been captured. Some of them arrived on Sunday.”
The refugees, mainly comprising women and children, have been provided with essential support, including food and household items, since last month in areas such as Phaikoh, H Thana/Sangkalok, K Ashang Khullen, Wanglee, and Namlee villages.
Kamjong district shares a 109 km border with Myanmar, and the lack of a proper border fence is identified as a major challenge for the district administration in preventing illegal infiltration. Assam Rifles, along with Manipur police, are actively monitoring the border region to curb cross-border movement.
This influx follows a similar pattern witnessed in July this year when 718 Myanmar nationals, including 209 males, 208 females, and 301 children, were detected in Manipur’s border districts. In February 2023, Chief Minister N Biren Singh informed the state Assembly that 393 Myanmar nationals were apprehended in the state from January 1, 2012, till February 2023. The ongoing unrest in Myanmar’s border areas continues to drive the migration of nationals into Manipur, posing challenges for border security and administration.
