Nagaland civil bodies urge Home Minister Amit Shah to repatriate over 5000 Myanmar migrants from Manipur

Guwahati: Civil bodies and organisations from Nagaland have submitted a memorandum to Home Minister Amit Shah, calling for the repatriation of illegal migrants and fugitives from Myanmar and the withdrawal of Assam Rifles from the Indo-Myanmar borders in Kamjong areas of Manipur.

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) jointly presented the memorandum, highlighting pressing concerns regarding the influx of migrants and the presence of military forces in the region.

The influx of Illegal Migrants: The memorandum states that approximately 5,457 illegal immigrants from Myanmar are being sheltered in eight Tangkhul villages in Manipur’s Kamjong district. The local residents have been significantly outnumbered by these migrants, creating social and cultural imbalances. The organisations emphasised the lack of adequate law enforcement agencies to manage the increasing anti-social activities. They noted that the foreign culture introduced by the migrants is overwhelming the native customary practices due to population imbalances.

While biometric data for 5,173 individuals has been captured, the memorandum notes that monitoring the activities of adult male migrants remains a significant challenge. The fluctuating number of inmates in makeshift refugee camps complicates regular verification exercises.

The Naga organisations urged the Home Minister to explore ways to facilitate the safe return of the migrants to Myanmar, noting that the violent confrontations in their country have subsided. They stressed that while they have extended hospitality, the prolonged stay of migrants poses risks to local well-being.

Call to Action

The Naga bodies appealed to the Home Minister to withdraw Assam Rifles from the Indo-Myanmar border areas, citing the lack of imminent threats from across the border. They urged the Union Government to consider the realities faced by local residents and to take timely action to alleviate their concerns.

The memorandum reflects the urgent need for addressing the socio-cultural and security issues arising from the influx of migrants and the military presence in the region. The organisations hope that their concerns will prompt thoughtful and immediate action from the central government.