416 Myanmar soldiers entered India, keeping close watch on border situation: Army Chief Gen Pande

The Chief of Army Staff said that India is considering strengthening fencing along the border as about 416 Myanmarese soldiers crossed over to the country.

Guwahati: More than 400 Myanmar Army personnel entered India through the porous international border in the last two months, causing a security concern in the North-East, Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande said on Thursday, as fighting continues to rage between rebel forces in Myanmar and the junta-regime.

While 20 battalions of the Assam Rifles have been deployed in the region, there are now plans to further strengthen the security network in the North-East. Fencing in other border states besides Manipur is also under consideration.

Addressing a press conference ahead of the Army Day, Gen Pande said 416 soldiers from Myanmar walked into India, besides some civilians who took shelter in Mizoram and Manipur. "We are closely watching the situation across the Indo-Myanmar border," he said.

Officials said all 416 Myanmarese military personnel had been repatriated since their incursion.

Myanmar has been witnessing wide-spread protests demanding restoration of democracy since the military seized power in a coup in February 2021.

The military, in response, has been using airstrikes to target its opponents and those involved in the armed struggle against the ruling regime.

One of India's strategic neighbours, Myanmar shares a 1,640 kilometre-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur.

The hostilities between Myanmar's anti-junta groups and government forces in several key towns and regions near the border with India fuelled concerns in the Indian military establishment about the possible spillover effect.

Gen Pande said because of the situation along the Indo-Myanmar border, some of the insurgent groups were feeling the pressure and attempting to enter Manipur.

On the Manipur security situation, the Army chief said the Assam Rifles units deployed in the violence-hit state had displayed a lot of restraint, despite a lot of provocation. “The challenge is (recovery) of missing weapons as only 30 per cent of such weapons have been recovered so far,” he added.

Last month, India called for cessation of fighting between Myanmar's military and the anti-junta groups near Indo-Myanmar border.