AR rejects claims about involvement of Myanmar nationals in Manipur violence

The Assam Rifles on Wednesday categorically rejected the claims about involvement of Myanmar nationals in the ongoing Manipur violence.

It may be noted some Imphal based media houses have published a news story about seven Myanmar nationals currently undergoing medical treatment at Churachandpur district hospital, raising concern about the possibility of Myanmar nationals being involved in the ongoing violence. However, the IGAR (S) has clarified on the matter.

Following the reports of injured Myanmar nationals being treated at the Churachandpur district hospital that has raised concerns amid the ongoing conflict in the state, security forces stated that the involvement of these foreign nationals in the ongoing Manipur violence was fake.

"Numerous posts of a 'purported leaked document' of casualties of Myanmar nationals being treated in India are being spread. It mentioned that a total of 16 people (including 08 Indian nationals who were essentially the drivers or passengers, one Myanmarese translator and seven Myanmarese injured civilians, reportedly from violence in their own country) were intercepted by Assam Rifles on June 15, 16 and 21, 2023 at Yangoubung, Chandel district," Aabha KS, Lieutenant Colonel, Staff Officer (Public Relations & Media), IGAR(S) said in clarification mailed to the media.

In accordance with existing standard operating procedures, the case was informed to the district police for further follow up thereafter, Aabha KS added.

Narrative of these foreign nationals' involvement in ongoing Manipur violence is fake and is being initiated, yet again, for vested interests by inimical elements, the IGAR(S) said, appealing all to refer to official handles only for genuine information on Manipur.

Officials further said that they have been undergoing treatment at the hospital since April 20, even before violence broke out in the state.

They were actually intercepted by Assam Rifles at the border and were permitted to enter India, as they were facing a medical emergency. As a matter of government policy, India has been allowing Myanmarese to avail treatment in India in the case of a medical emergency, given that there is trouble in Myanmar due to junta rule.

India Today NE reported that injured Myanmarese nationals admitted to the hospital were revolutionaries, who had been attacked by the Myanmar Junta and brought to India and provided treatment in Manipur on humanitarian grounds. “They are in Manipur’s Churachandpur for medical care. Earlier they used to go to Imphal also but as the capital city is blocked, they have been bound by the situation to get the treatment in Churachandpur,” adding that they had no role to play in Manipur violence.

“These individuals are members of the People’s Defence Force (PDF) and got injured during the intervening night of June 27 and 28, when an armed fight broke out between PDF and Tatmadaw, which is basically the Myanmar Junta. During that incident, several civilians died and casualties were reported on both side. These eight PDF members were brought to Churachandpur through Chandel district,” reports India Today NE.

In fact, India and Myanmar have a free movement regime (FMR) in place within 16 kms on both sides of the border. However, this has been temporarily suspended by the Manipur government due to the ongoing violence in the state.