Check illegal influx from Myanmar: Indian govt to 4 northeastern states

India's federal government today conveyed to four northeastern Indian states sharing borders with Myanmar to keep a very strict watch on the entry of people from that country.

The northeastern states are Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

However, sources said the four states have been told in a written communication to make exceptions for those fleeing Myanmar in cases where it appears absolutely essential on humanitarian grounds, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The decision was taken in the backdrop of 11 police officials and other people from Myanmar having crossed over to the Indian state of Mizoram after the military coup in that country last month.

In a letter to chief secretaries of the four northeastern states last Wednesday, the federal home ministry had said, "It has been reported that illegal influx from Myanmar has started."

The letter to the chief secretaries reiterated that state governments and federally-ruled territories have no powers to grant refugee status to any foreigner and India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.

"In view of above, you are requested to take appropriate action as per law to check illegal influx from Myanmar into India," the letter added.

"The states have been spoken to and a written communication was also sent earlier to the concerned states in this regard. While we are seized of the situation unfolding in Myanmar, we cannot allow all and sundry to enter the country. The states have been advised to deal with the issue on a case-to-case basis," an official of the federal Ministry of Home Affairs was quoted by Indian media as saying.