Are illegal migrants from Myanmar involved in the current Manipur unrest?

Nearly 2,500 illegal immigrants were detected between March 2021 and Feb 2023 in 5 districts of the state namely, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Churachandpur, Kamjong and Pherzawl

Are illegal migrants from Myanmar really involved in some way in the current unrest in Manipur?
On more than two occasions since the violence began in Manipur on May 3rd, Chief Minister N Biren Singh stated that the violence in Manipur is not a fight between the Meiteis and the Kukis and that it was a battle between illegal immigrants from Myanmar and security forces.

Does CM N Biren Singh has any evidence or on what basis is he making this big statement?
Inquiries reveal that the state cabinet in its sitting on January 18th, 2023 had decided to constitute a cabinet sub-committee to guide the functioning of Manipur State Population Commission and other authorities on the identification of illegal immigrants and refugees in the state.

Subsequently, on February 16, a notification was issued by the Manipur Governor, whereby the Cabinet Sub-Committee was constituted with Letpao Haokip, the Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister named as chairperson while the other two members were Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai and Education and Law Minister Th Basanta Kumar Singh.

Even before the violence began on May 3rd, the Sub Committee began overseeing ongoing efforts by the state government agencies to identify the illegal immigrants and refugees from Myanmar.

In fact, in the month of March, the Cabinet Sub Committee led by Chairperson Letpao Haokip and members Awangbow Newmai and Th Basanta Kumar visited a Myanmar refugee facility in one of the districts.

Meanwhile, a Manipur Police communication dated June 6, 2023, accessed by Northeast Live revealed that nearly 2,500 illegal immigrants were detected between March 2021 and Feb 2023 in 5 districts of the state namely, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Churachandpur, Kamjong and Pherzawl.

The Manipur Police document revealed that from 13 villages in Tengnoupal, a total of 1,147 illegal immigrants were detected while the figure was 1,175 from the 10 villages in Chandel. 154 illegal immigrants from Myanmar were detected from 6 locations in Churachandpur and 4 people were apprehended after a search in 24 locations in Kamjong district. No illegal immigrant was detected in Pherzawl.

Now what has the state government been doing with these detected illegal immigrants from Myanmar?

Some of these immigrants have been lodged at a detention centre in Imphal Valley. The process is also underway for the issue of temporary identity cards for these immigrants from Myanmar after formalities like biometrics and others are completed. These migrants are to be deported to Myanmar as and when the situation improves in the neighbouring country.

Government sources in Imphal, meanwhile, claim that many of these illegal immigrants are opposed to setting up of shelter homes for lodging till the time they are deported to Myanmar. The political leadership in Imphal has also been accusing many of these migrants to be involved in poppy cultivation and the flourishing drug trade.

Well, the exiled opposition National Unity Government in Myanmar has in the meantime urged Myanmar refugees in Manipur not to involve in local politics and refrain from indulging in illegal activities like drug smuggling or trade in animal parts.
Now, the big question is, are there other illegal immigrants living in the 4-5 districts mentioned above who have not been detected so far? And are some of them really involved in the current conflict as the CM has been saying?
We will have to wait for hard evidence.

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