India takes up reported ‘intrusion’ by Myanmar troops in Manipur

As reported by NDTV, India has taken up with Myanmar the possible intrusion of their army into the Moreh sector of Manipur, to set up a camp.

Myanmarese soldiers reportedly crossed the border two-three days ago and started cutting trees to set up a temporary camp at Holenphai village in the border town of Moreh.

The village is next to a disputed pillar, numbered 76, along the border. There are nine pillars that remain disputed, say officials.

“The Myanmar army was cutting trees to make their post on the border. The area was very close to the International Border, but our army got it stopped,” said Shambhu Singh, the Home Ministry’s Joint Secy, North East.

State officials and the Assam Rifles troops who guard the border also downplayed the incident, calling it a “local misunderstanding”, not an incursion.

Myanmarese soldiers reportedly claimed the village was part of their territory, but New Delhi says it is an un-demarcated, ‘no construction zone’ on India’s side of the border.

“We have very good ties with Myanmar. There is consensus that we should demarcate the territories, we need to conduct surveys,” said sources in the External Affairs Ministry.

Sources say the Indian ambassador to Myanmar, Gautam Mukhopadhyaya, will meet representatives of Myanmar’s government tomorrow to discuss the reported intrusion.

Manipur Principal Secretary Suresh Babu, who inspected the area, said: ‘Tomorrow we will sit together and discuss our maps. Myanmar is a friendly country – we both have to cooperate.”