IMPHAL, India, May 18,Reuter: Indian police on Wednesday accused Burma of trying to annex a border village in the remote northeast Indian state of Manipur.
“This is a clear case of intrusion”, Deputy Police Chief Jogeshwar Singh told Reuters.
A senior Home Ministry official who asked not to be identified said Burmese troops had occupied a small area around the village of Moulcham.
“They want to acquire Moulcham and its surrounding area to control a strategic road on the edge of the village,” he said.
In 1980, the New Delhi government agreed in principle to hand over the village to Burma, but the Manipur government objected and the pact was never implemented.
“Burmese troops try to collect taxes from us and eyen arrest villagers, saying it falls in their territory”, said Jamkhotang Haokip, Chief of the village and its 5,000 people.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 27, 1988
