With the Chinese incursion in Upper Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh just dying down, Manipur on Thursday witnessed unprecedented intrusion from Myanmar.
Locals have alleged they witnessed a group of Mynmarese residents encroaching a huge area upon the no man’s land that lies between Moreh gate no. 2 and Ganesh Gate at Indo-Myanmar border by constructing a fence. The incident took place at around 6:30 am on Thursday morning.
The administration swung into action as soon as the matter was reported by the local residents of Moreh. A team of security personnel led by the sub-inspector of Moreh police station along with Assam Rifles jawans and accompanied by civil administration officials arrived at the spot and halted the fencing work.
The simmering tension was diffused almost immediately with the arrival of a commanding officer of the Myanmarese army who said the fencing work was carried out by Namphalong Bazaar Committee of Myanmar. He further assured no such construction or encroachment will be entertained in future without prior consultation between the two neighbouring countries.
Later Moreh Superintendent of Police (SP), Dr S Ibomcha and Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Lawrence K Munluo made a ground zero inspection and pacified the locals. It is learnt the SP has instructed Moreh police station to intensify patrolling in the area on regular basis. Ibomcha also held discussions with Assam Rifles officials guarding the Indo-Myanmar border in the area and instructed the personnel to ensure that similar incidents do not recur in future.
Later Manipur Director General of Police (DGP), L M Khaute told media persons that additional security has been reinforced at the no man’s land near the Moreh border post in Manipur after the incident.
Khaute also revealed Thursday’s incident was second such attempt as Mynmarese villagers tried to erect a fence in the no man’s land on an earlier occasion. Few days back. The villagers of Manipur side thwarted the earlier attempt on their own initiative.
Manipur shares a 398 km border with Myanmar of the total 1, 643 km length of the Indo-Mynamar border. Notably most of this 398 km stretch is porous.