[ Bengia Ajum ]

CHANGLANG, 14 Sep: After a report of 49 Myanmar nationals going missing after entering Changlang district, the district authorities here clarified that all of them have been accounted for and have returned to their country.

As per the report, the MHA had initially raised a red flag, claiming that they had not returned after entering Changlang through the designated international border crossing point at Pangsu Pass in Nampong.

It was alleged that they had not returned even after their border passes had expired. The district authorities issued an alert and urged local people, including gaon buras, panchayat leaders and others, to help trace the missing individuals.

"Actually, their biometric entries were not updated by the Assam Rifles, who man the border crossing. We have collected the information and duly informed the higher authorities, including the Home Department, that all of them have returned to Myanmar. The issue has been resolved," said a senior district official.

The movement of local tribal communities is allowed along the Indo-Myanmar border under the Free Movement Regime (FMR).

"Under the FMR, villagers from both India and Myanmar can travel up to 10 km and stay for a week. Usually, people return on the same day, but sometimes they stay back for medical reasons. We keep an eye on the movement of people coming from the Myanmar side," the official added.