IT Exclusive
Imphal, Oct 29:
One fifty-two (52) year old lady who was detained by Manipur police on October 23, 2023, from Khwairamband Keithel in Imphal turns out to be a hardcore cadre of an armed rebel group waging war against the Myanmar government in Chin state region, a source close to Imphal Times reveals.
The lady, identified as Mya Kyay Mon daughter of Htunt Nyuntt, was found loitering in a suspicious manner at Khwairamband Keithel area in broad daylight. Vendor Ladies of Khwairamband Ima Keithel said that the mysterious lady did not speak Manipuri and when they were trying to communicate with her, a team of Imphal City police came and took her and detained in custody as she showed a passport issued by the Norway government, which is expired and could not produce any valid visa for staying in Manipur. She is now kept at Foreigners Detention Centre, Sajiwa since October 25, 2023, pursuant to an order by the Home Department, Government of Manipur.
Source with the Imphal Times said that a team of 20th Assam Rifles who were conducting routine checking at Khudengthabi Check post along Imphal-Moreh road found the lady – Mya Kyay Mon, travelling without any valid documents. Upon inspection of her passport and documents, it was determined that her passport expired on February 16, 2022, and her e-visa expired on May 21, 2020. How the lady, who happened to be a cadre of an armed militant group based in neighbouring country Myanmar managed to escape from the Assam Rifles trooper is yet to be investigated by this newspaper.
As Manipur has been reeling under crisis, since May 3 this year after conflict started between Meitei and Kuki people backed by armed militants belonging to the Kuki-Zo community, who are engaging in Suspension of Operation with the Government of India. And people in the valley area of Manipur are staying alert most of the time as there are rumours of Kuki militants sending their army to attack the Meitei people. When Imphal Times digs the matter to find out how and why the lady (armed cadre of Myanmar militants) is doing in the crowded area of Imphal, it was found that the lady has been staying in Imphal and other areas including a Shelter Home run by an NGO, about three (3) months back before the violence started in May.
It may be mentioned that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had already stated while delivering a speech in parliament that illegal migrants are the reason for the violence in Manipur. Recently, quoting the Central security agencies, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had also stated that Myanmar and Bangladesh-based militants are involved in the violence burning Manipur.
Speaking to Imphal Times, S. Radhapiyari, Secretary of Environment and Economic Management Association (EEMA), told Imphal Times that she has no knowledge or is related in any way to one foreigner Mya Kyay Mon (52 years) daughter of Htunt Nyuntt, the lady detained by police for holding expired Norwegian passport and of Myanmar origin who stayed at the shelter home run by her NGO.
S. Radhapiyari said that in February 2023, Mya Kyay Mon was brought to the home by Babloo Loitongbam along with a lady Burmese Language Professor of Manipur University. While staying at the Shelter Home, she was visited by some individuals from Churachandpur who came in a Bolero vehicle and together with the visitors they went to Central Jail, Sajiwa along with edibles and reportedly handed over to some inmates.
“I had requested Babloo Loitongbam to take away Mya Kyay Mon from the shelter home repeatedly, because of her problematic behaviour and loitering around violating the rules of the Home to which Babloo Loitongbam said her papers are being processed and will be removed from the home soon”, Radhapiyari said. After the outbreak of the May 3 ethnic clash, Babloo Loitongbam provided a ticket for Mya Kyay Mon and she left for the airport the next morning at around 6:00 am, Radhapiyari said.