Imphal, March 22: Myanmar officials have strongly denied the presence of any Indian insurgent outfits inside its territory, said a source.

Mention may be made here that Indian delegates during a sectoral level meeting with the Myanmar officials held at Kalimyo Town (Myanmar) on March 17 and 18 had said Myanmar soil was being used by Indian insurgent outfits for carrying out subversive activities inside Indian territory.

The sectoral level meeting held between the Indian and Myanmar officials mainly focused on border drug trafficking and security related issues.

The Indian delegation was led by Rajiv Agarwal Jt Secretary Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) while the Myanmar delegates were led by a Deputy Minister.

Even though the Myanmarese officials were willing to take the matter to the higher authority, the Myanmarese officials appealed to the Indian authorities to provide specific information and details regarding the presence of Indian insurgent outfits inside the their territories, said the source.

Stating that 90% of heroin smuggled in India comes from Myanmar via Manipur, the Indian delegates also appealed to the Myanmar officials to take up strict measures and help in checking the free flow of heroin into the country.

The Indian official also informed that a total of 129 Kgs of heroin were seized by Manipur police from Manipur alone in 2003.Replying to the charges made by the Indian officials, the Myanmeres counterparts said that their Govt had always been fighting and had never let their guard down against drug smuggling.

They added that the higher authorities would be informed to take up stringent measures against drug smuggling.

On being questioned about the violation of Indo-Myanmar Border Trade Agreement by the Myanmar Military Junta by preventing Indian citizens with the required permits to travel upto Kalimyo via Tamu, Myanmarese authorities answered that Indian citizens would be allowed to travel inside Myanmar only when the draft policy on Free movement Regime prepared by both the Indian and Myanmarese authorities are approved.

The Indian officials however reacted and stated that the decision to allow Indian citizen travel upto Kalimyo had already been agreed upon by both the two Govts to boost the border trade and therefore it had nothing to do with the Free Movement Regime's policy.

Mention may be made here that the policy of Free Movement Regime is to allow people from both the countries to visit their relatives residing inside India or Myanmar.

Officials from Mizoram who also attended the meeting as a part of the Indian delegate expressed their desire for upgrading their border town of Champai into a full fledged trade centre.

They also appealed to the Myanmarese official to set up a Hotel cum restaurant at Champai Relake which is sacred place for the Mizos so that people of Mizoram would not face any problems regarding fooding and lodging while visiting this sacred site.

It may be noted here that Champai Relake is presently located inside Myanmar.

The next Sectoral Level Meeting will be held in India in October.

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