Imphal, October 20: Drawing the attention of the Union Home Ministry to the criminal activities being carried out at the porous Indo-Myanmar body, the Churachandpur District Students' Union has today stated that despite large scale timber smuggling and drug trade along the border, the Union Home Ministry has shown no willingness to control the situation.

In a statement, the student body said that the lapses of the Union Home Ministry is amply proved by the abduction of one P Ginkhanthang and four others of Muallum village on February 12 this year on the border area.

The statement alleged that the five villagers were enticed to collect timber but were instead held captive by the Myanmarese authorities in collusion with some village chiefs/headmen.

The money demanded for their release is Rs 1 lakh in Indian currency, alleged the student body.

Instead of taking up the matter with the Myanmarese counterpart, the Union Home Ministry is learned to have directed the Army authority in Manipur to take up the issue with the Myanmar authority at the sectorial meetings, added the student body.

Disclosing further details, CDSU said the Army authorities were directed to look into the matter vide DO No 15/2/2005-NE, of the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Government of India, North Block, New Delhi, dated August 2.However this measure has failed to bear any results, it added.

Taking this fact into consideration, it is imperative that the Union Home Ministry review its policy relating to Myanmar so that checks and balances of the two countries are worked out.

In the context of the No Man's land treaty, Myanmar Nationals are coming and going between their country and India without any restrictions or administrative inconveniences, said CDSU.

However villagers from Manipur are harassed and exploited by Myanmar in violation of the No Man's Land treaty between the two countries.

Taking into consideration all these points, attempts ought to be made to check the infiltration of Myanmarese authorities into Indian territory, said the student body and added that the Government of India should see to it that the status quo of No Man's Land is maintained.

Apart from Ginkhanthang, the four others held captive by Myanmar are Khaikhanlal, Zakam, Hangkhansuan, and Khupmang.

The wives of the five men have also written to the Union Home Ministry highlighting the facts and circumstances under which their husbands were taken captives by Myanmar.

In the representation, the wives pointed that their husbands were picked up by Myanmar army from Zoukhonuom village which is under Singnat sub-division of Churachandpur district.

There has been no trial and all have been held captives all these months without giving them a chance to defend themselves, the women asserted.

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