AIZAWL/AGARTALA: Security has been tightened along the north-eastern states that border with Myanmar and Bangladesh to foil any attempt by the Rohingyas fleeing the Rakhine state in Myanmar from entering India, according to reports.
Top Assam Rifles and Border Security Force (BSF) officials in Aizawl and Agartala, however, confirmed that no illegal immigrant has been detected or intercepted in the bordering areas of the northeastern states.
Four states — Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km), Nagaland (215 km) and Mizoram (510 km) — share 1,643-km of mountainous and unfenced border with Myanmar.
Counter-insurgency trained Assam Rifles are guarding the India-Myanmar border.
Deputy Inspector General of 23 Sector Assam Rifles Brigadier M.S. Mokha said in Aizawl that there was no influx of Rohingyas to Mizoram yet.
In view of the apprehension of influx, a high level meeting of various security officials was held at 23 Assam Rifles Headquarters in Aizawl on Thursday.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of Assam Rifles, BSF, Central Reserve Police Force, state police and various intelligence agencies.
A BSF official in Agartala said that there is no specific report of any possibility of influx of illegal Rohingyas into Tripura and other northeastern states through Bangladesh.
“Our commanders are taking suitable steps to thwart any attempt by the Rohingyas who are fleeing Myanmar from entering Indian territories. The BSF is also prepared to deal with any eventuality,” the official said adding that no special alert communication has been received yet from the headquarters.
Earlier on many occasions, Rohingyas had entered Tripura and few other northeastern states via Bangladesh illegally in search of jobs.
Subsequently, they were pushed back to Bangladesh after following the legal and security formalities.
