Imphal: Barely 10 months after the Myanmar army encroached on a portion of Indian territory along the Moreh sector of Chandel district in Manipur, it has again occupied a 3-sq km area in Ukhrul district of the state, villagers of the area claimed.

Taking note of the latest ‘incursion’, chief minister Okram

Ibobi Singh convened a meeting with top civil security officers, including the deputy commissioner of Ukhrul.

Manipur shares a 390-km porous border with Myanmar. Three of its districts — Chandel, Ukhrul and Churachandpur — share a border with Myanmar. Central forces, mostly Assam Rifles, guard the bordering areas.

Myanmar troops, including officers accompanied by police, last week intruded into Ukhrul’s Choro Khunou village that lies between border pillar No 6 and 95, said the villagers. Choro Khunou, under Kamjong block, is located at a distance of 250 km from Imphal and 150 km from the Ukhrul district headquarters.

Claiming that the area belongs to them, the Myanmar army seized a saw mill and some other structures there, the villagers added.

The troops warned the villagers to refrain from building houses in the occupied area.

The village authorities urged the state and the Centre to intervene immediately.

Reacting to the development, Ibobi Singh on Thursday evening convened a meeting of the chief secretary, DGP, senior Assam Rifles officials, Army, BSF and CRPF and the Ukhrul DC in Imphal.

The DC said a sub-divisional officer and an additional SP of the district have been sent to Choro Khunou village to gather information, sources said.

The Army said it would raise the issue during the next bilateral meeting with its Myanmar counterparts, while the Assam Rifles said they have sent their men to the area to get a clear picture.

