Aizawl, July 31: Following an instruction from the Union Home Ministry (MHA), the Mizoram government has also started the process of collecting biometric details of Myanmar nationals staying in the state since February 2021.
Around 35,000 Myanmar nationals, including children and women, have taken shelter in Mizoram since February 2021, after the Myanmar military, following a coup, took over the governance.
The Manipur government on the advice of the MHA on Saturday also began collecting the biometrics of illegal Myanmar immigrants in the northeastern state and the exercise would be completed by September.
According to reports, the process of recording biometric data of Myanmar nationals was launched in all the 11 districts a few days back.
The exercise was being conducted as per the guidelines of the MHA in relief camps and other places where the Myanmarese are sheltered.
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and the state’s two MPs — C Lalrosanga of Lok Sabha and K. Vanlalvena of Rajya Sabha — had earlier on a number of occasions urged the centre, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to recognise the Myanmar nationals as “refuges” or “tourists” and to provide funds for the relief of the Myanmarese.
As many as 718 Myanmar nationals, including 301 children and 208 women, entered Manipur’s Chandel district on July 22 and 23 due to the ongoing clashes between the Army and the civil forces in the neighbouring country.
The Myanmar nationals are now staying in seven locations of the Chandel district — Lajang, Bonse, New Samtal, New Lajang, Yangnomphai, Yangnomphai Saw Mill, and Aivomjang — all villages along the India-Myanmar border.
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