Security has been beefed up in and around Manipur’s border commercial town of Moreh on Thursday following a violent protest by local residents over the alleged killing of two Indians inside Myanmar’s territory on Tuesday.
The deceased duo, identified by police as P Mohan (28) and M Iyarnar (35), lived in Moreh town and were originally from Tamil Nadu. While Mohan was an autorickshaw driver, Iyarnar was a businessman, said police.
Mohan and Iyarnar were found dead at Tamu, a town on the other side of the border at Moreh. According to police, they crossed the border to attend a friend’s birthday party. According to a treaty between India and Myanmar, people from both sides of the border can travel up to 16km on either side every day and have to return by 4 pm.
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Protests against their killings had turned violent on Wednesday when some local residents torched an unmanned sentry post of Myanmar police at Tamu. The protesters were demanding that the bodies of the deceased be brought back within 24 hours and ex-gratia be granted their families.
{{/usCountry}}Protests against their killings had turned violent on Wednesday when some local residents torched an unmanned sentry post of Myanmar police at Tamu. The protesters were demanding that the bodies of the deceased be brought back within 24 hours and ex-gratia be granted their families.
{{/usCountry}}A state police team led by a deputy inspector general was deployed at Moreh under prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPc since Wednesday night.
“Now, the situation is improving as the public are also cooperating,” said Tengnoupal Superintendent of Police B Gonlianmang.
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On Wednesday, apart from issuing prohibitory orders, the Tengnoupal district deputy commissioner had also advised “all the inhabitants of Moren and surrounding villages and all visitors to Moreh” not to venture to Myanmar side without proper documents/permits from concerned authorities.
Meanwhile, chief minister N Biren Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Imphal East district on Thursday that the state authority is communicating with concerned authorities at the Embassy level to bring back the bodies. “There is positive news,” he added.