The paramilitary Assam Rifles has stepped up vigil along the India-Myanmar border and asked the local people to travel with proper identity proof to and from Moreh, Manipur’s border trade town.
Illegal camps
This follows a few cases of trafficking of Rohingya boys and girls detected in Manipur as well as illegal camps established by extremist groups such as the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland. Officials in Moreh said the border between Manipur and Myanmar has been sealed expect for two international gates used by people on both sides for trade and social visits. As per a bilateral agreement, local residents of both countries are allowed to travel up to 16 km from the border without travel documents.
Elderly traders are complaining about the identity cards that they said were never required even during conflict situations in the past. “This is a security requirement based on inputs about possible trafficking of people and movement of extremists,” an official said.
