Manipur Violence: Following violence in that state over the past few weeks, Mizoram, which already hosts refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh, has taken in about 8,000 Manipur refugees, mostly Kukis. Mizoram is working to make sure it takes care of the newcomers without jeopardising its own interests and India’s security concerns.
A Haven for Refugees Escaping Violence and Instability
In addition to being home to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo ethnic group, which has close cultural and linguistic ties with the people of the Chin Hills in Myanmar, the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in Bangladesh, and the Kukis in Manipur, Mizoram also shares borders with Manipur, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. As a result, it has grown to be a popular destination for people fleeing violence, persecution, and instability. Over 40,000 individuals from Myanmar, 700 people from Bangladesh, and about 8000 people from Manipur have sought refuge in Mizoram, according to state government data.
Providing Support and Care to Refugees Against Directives
The Mizoram government has disregarded the Union Home Ministry’s strict directives against accepting any refugees and has been outspoken in its support of the Bangladeshi nationals who arrived in the state after fighting broke out between the Bangladesh Army and the Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) in October of last year as well as the Myanmarese refugees who began arriving after the military coup of February 2021. State Home Department representatives claim that more over 38 crore rupees had been spent on the care of Bangladeshi and Myanmarese refugees. NGOs have also contributed. For instance, R. Lalngheta, president of the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA), stated that the NGO has spent 57 lakh rupees aiding Myanmar refugees and 31 lakh rupees supporting Bangladeshi refugees.
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Crackdown on Illegal Immigration
India has requested the state administration to stop illegal immigration and deport people without proper documentation even though it has not yet formally recognised Myanmar or Bangladeshi refugees. To stop a further influx of illegal immigrants, drugs, and other contraband products, Assam Rifles, which is manning the Indo-Myanmar border, aims to expand and tighten security along the border. Since ethnic riots in Manipur erupted last month, at least 98 people have died and over 300 have been injured. After a Tribal Solidarity March on May 3 in 10 districts to oppose the Meitei community’s desire for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, fights broke out. Since then, numerous areas of the state have experienced deadly conflict. Tension over the displacement of Kuki people from reserve forest area had caused a number of smaller agitations before to the violence.
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District-wise Timings and Judicial Investigation Announced
The curfew in Jiribam has been loosened for eight hours, from 8 am to 4 pm. Thoubal and Kakching will also unwind for seven hours, from five in the morning to twelve in the afternoon. The curfew will be relaxed for ten hours in the Churachandpur and Chandel districts, commencing at five in the morning and ending at three in the afternoon. Kangpokpi will have a longer rest of 11 hours, from 6 am to 5 pm, but Tengnoupal district will only have an 8-hour relaxation from 6 am to 2 pm. The longest curfew relaxation will be in the Pherzawl district, which will have a 12-hour window between 6 AM and 6 PM. A judicial investigation into the confrontations will soon be revealed, according to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who wrapped up his four-day tour to the violent state yesterday. The investigation would be overseen by a former high court chief justice.
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