North Eastern states bordering Myanmar– Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram– have been put on high alert following the mass exodus of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.
Centre has directed Assam Rifles to be on high alert in the region, bordering Myanmar, in order to keep check on illegal immigrants trying to enter the states illegally by crossing the international border.
Patrolling all along Indo-Myanmar border has been intensified over the past three days. Till today, no illegal immigrant has been detected or intercepted. However, high priority is being given to the border town of Moreh in Manipur and South Mizoram.
Talking to this reporter, leader of a tribal hoho, who wished not to be named, expressed serious concern over the rise in number of illegal immigrants in Nagaland. He was apprehensive that the Myanmar issue would definitely impact Nagaland in the long run if the government of the day does not put in place proper mechanism to check influx of illegal immigrants.
“It is time for our state to wake up and act on such issues rather than going to Delhi with a begging bowl, pleading for money,” he said. The influx of illegal immigrants in Nagaland has adversely impacted the economy, which the government has turned a blind eye. He said not only the government but the apex tribal bodies need to wake up and put their heads together to tackle this serious issue before it is too late.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi Syed Muazzem Ali Thursday said that the mass exodus of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar has to be tackled urgently as it has the potential of becoming a “huge security concern” for the entire region, including India’s insurgency-affected North Eastern states.
“I am more concerned about my own region but the presence of Rohingya refugees elsewhere could be a security risk for everybody else. It could be used even in your North East India,” Ali said. The envoy evaded a direct response to a question on reports that groups such as the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba had established links with the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, but said the Rohingya refugees could “fall victim to the various organisations who are trying to destabilise the region”.
“I’m sure you’re well aware of those destabilising factors (which) we have been working overtime (to counter) during the past four decades, even in the context of North East India,” he said.
‘Can’t trust Rohingyas’
India cannot trust Rohingyas as they are “illegal migrants” and not Indian nationals, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said here on Thursday.
“Let me make it very clear… they are not Indians, they are illegal migrants. We can’t trust them,” Ahir said while speaking with a news channel. “It is not in nation’s interest to keep them here. The government will not yield (to keep Rohingyas) under any pressure,” he added.
Ahir said that the Rohingyas might be having “some links” (with terror outfits), though he did not elaborate if the government has any specific input about Rohingyas’ links to any specific terror organisation.
“They may be having some links, that is why these things are being talked about… The government feels that they pose a danger,” the minister said.
Leave a Reply