The arrest of six Myanmarese nationals for illegally entering into Indian Territory in the Anjaw district has caught security agencies by surprise. As per the initial investigation, they were reportedly collecting wild mushrooms at the time of their arrest. However, what is worrying is the claim made by locals of the Anjaw district that a large number of Myanmarese people are entering Kulung Valley in the district to escape the civil war. Ever since the democratically elected government was toppled by the military, civil war has broken out in Myanmar.
Because of the intense fighting between the Myanmar army and pro-democracy forces, thousands of people living near the Indo-Myanmar border have taken shelter in various North Eastern states. Therefore, there are possibilities that people from Myanmar might take shelter inside the Indian Territory in Arunachal Pradesh. The Indo-Myanmar border especially, in the Arunachal sector is densely forested. In several parts, the security forces cannot patrol due to the deep jungle. Taking advantage of it, the Myanmarese citizens might take shelter to escape from the civil war. The authorities should keep an eye on this development. As long as they don’t pose national security on humanitarian grounds they can be given temporary shelter but they should not be allowed to settle permanently.