India deports first batch of Myanmar nationals who fled fighting

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - New Delhi on Friday deported the first batch of Myanmar nationals who had crossed into India amid the ongoing ethnic conflict in Myanmar, according to officials.

“First batch of Myanmar nationals who entered India illegally deported today,” N Biren Singh, chief minister of northeastern Manipur state, wrote on X.

Stating that although India is not signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, Singh added, “it has given shelter & aid to those fleeing the crisis in Myanmar on humanitarian grounds with a systematic approach.”

Hundreds of people, mostly security personnel, from Myanmar, which is entangled in an internal ethnic conflict, have so far crossed into India and Bangladesh.

Amid the ongoing ethnic conflict in Myanmar, India last month said it has decided to end free movement arrangement between India and the Southeast Asian nation.

Singh told the assembly earlier this week that 6,746 illegal Myanmar nationals have been detected in the state from May 3, 2023 to Feb. 27 this year.

Myanmar has been under junta rule since February 2021 and the military, locally known as Tatmadaw, has faced severe resistance from ethnic groups in many regions of the country.

At least three ethnic armed groups, which united under the so-called Brotherhood Alliance, have been fighting the junta regime to take control in the northern parts of Myanmar since late October.

The groups are attacking junta forces, which rule the Buddhist-majority Southeast Asian nation, capturing many towns and junta outposts.

Many people have been reported killed during the attacks.

Earlier, thousands of Rohingya refugees had also entered India seeking refuge. Indian police have made several arrests of Rohingya, for living “illegally.”