May 2, Mizzima News - Worried over large-scale influx of underground members of India's northeastern militant groups through the international border, Manipur Chief Minister, Mr. Okram Ibobi has demanded the immediate sealing of Indo-Burma border.

Addressing a press conference on April 30 evening in the Manipur capital, Imphal, Mr. Ibobi said that underground members are taking advantage of the porous Indo-Burma border to sneak into the region to instigate and carry out subversive activities. Expressing concern at the time taken by the Indian Home Ministry to address this issue, the Manipur chief minister said that the Indian government seemed more
pro-active towards sealing the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders, but it is not sincere in protecting the Indo-Burma border.

Manipur shares a 300 km border with Burma. However, due to a lack of proper security force personnel to monitor the border, hundreds of underground members are sneaking into northeast India. Criticising the Indian Home Minister, Mr. Ibobi said that the porous border is also helping anti-social elements to carry out drug and illegal arms business. "Proper fencing and border maintenance would help the Indian Home Ministry to curb the militancy problem in the region," he said, adding that more security force personnel should be deployed to the border to scale down the insurgency problem.

When asked about the ongoing Indian army operation at Sajatam Pak, regarded the strong hold of three militant groups of Manipur, Mr. Ibobi pleaded ignorance saying he was not intimidated in this regard. "The operation was conducted under the supervision of the Indian Home Ministry," he responded. Responding to questions about the suffering of the villagers living along the border, he said, "I am waiting for the Deputy Commissioner's report of the Chandel district. The moment I get his report, the relief operation will be taken up immediately." The chief
minister seems to be unhappy about the handling the Indian Army's of the operation.

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