India's northeastern village tense after Myanmar Army's 'intrusion'; residents stage protest

Fear has continued to grip border villages of northeastern Manipur state, a week after Myanmar Army's alleged intrusion into the Indian Territory.

Reportedly, Myanmar troops intruded Holenphai village of Tengnoupal district on March 04 and vandalized a saw mill, taking away all of its machines.

Panic-stricken residents of Lhangcham and Holenphai villages on Mar 10 staged protest against the alleged intrusion and demanded deployment of security forces.

India's northeastern states of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram share the international border with Myanmar.

Tengnoupal is the highest point of a road (NH-2) between Imphal and northwestern Myanmar.

Manipur, which neighbours Myanmar, is called the 'Jewel of India' for its paddy fields, lakes and green hills.

 

But it has been plagued for decades by a low-intensity war, blamed by authorities on rebels sheltering in Myanmar as well as a stream of drugs and guns seeping through the porous border.

India's policy-makers are loath to loosen the emergency shoot-to-kill powers imposed in 1958 in Manipur and other northeastern states for fear of giving oxygen to rebel movements in a region that also borders Bangladesh and China.

Although economic growth has been strong in recent years, the wealth is not felt on the streets and Manipur remains one of India's poorest states.

Educated young people are leaving to study in India's main cities and abroad and are not returning.