Imphal, September 27: Moreh police have chargesheeted the fifteen Myanmarese migrant workers who were pulled up recently by Assam Rifles troops from the border town of Moreh.

The illegal migrant workers, all Muslims from the Arakan provinces, are charged with entering the country illegally without valid papers under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.

The penalty on establishing guilty of this Act, legal experts said is maximum five years imprisonment or impounding monetary fine.

Investigation Officer of the case submitted the chargesheet against the fifteen accused on September 21 before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate of Chandel district and the Court head by BK Sharma fixed October 5 for further hearing of the charges.

If the accused confess to the charges levelled against them, the court would subsequently pass necessary orders either conviction or sentence or both.

If the Arakanese Muslims, who are currently in judicial custody, deny the charges, the court would conduct a trial against them.

Interestingly no lawyer has so far filed power of attorney to appear the case on behalf of the accused, but there is likelihood of some legal aid counsels appearing on their (accused) behalf.

Soldiers of Assam Rifles apprehended the illegal migrant workers from Moreh town on August 17 and they were later handed over to the police on August 20.There were wild speculations on the possibility of Arakanese migrant workers having links with the international terror group Al Qaida.

From police investigations, it is now clear that they have no connection with any terrorist organisations.

They were pulled up for not possession the required documents including passports and visas.

It is said that they came to Moreh to eke out their livelihood.

They would be produced by the Sajiwa Jail authorities before the Court for considering the charges levelled against them on October 5.

Comment