2 Punjabi traders go missing in Myanmar

IMPHAL: Tension gripped Manipur's border town of Moreh as the whereabouts of two Punjabis, who entered Myanmar a week ago, remained unknown. Security has also been beefed up along the porous India-Myanmar border in the Moreh sector to foil any unwanted eventualities.

Denouncing the government's failure to trace the missing persons, various civil bodies belonging to different communities imposed an indefinite bandh at Moreh from Tuesday evening, local sources said.

The bandh will affect the ongoing Indo-Myanmar commercial activities at Moreh, also the focal point of India's Look East Policy.

Various Moreh-based civil bodies on Sunday warned they would launch an agitation, including bandhs and sealing of the border gates, if the Indian and Myanmarese authorities fail to trace the missing persons - Sanvendar Singh (30) from UP and Daljeet Singh (33) from Maharashtra - by 2pm of Monday.

The two had reportedly entered Myanmar's Tamu district from Moreh on February 11 to sell school uniforms after obtaining passes from the Myanmar immigration counter at India-Myanmar gate No 2. Since then, their whereabouts are not known, local sources said, adding that they came to Moreh after carrying out their business in Imphal.

The agitating Moreh bodies, including the Hill Tribal Council (HTC), Meitei Council Moreh (MCM), Tamil Sangam, MMCM, ACODOM and KWUHR submitted separate representations to the additional DC, Moreh, and district chairman (Tamu district) of the neighboring country, pressing them to trace the missing persons, a source said. The Border Trade and Chamber of Commerce, Moreh (BTCC) too urged the Tamu district chairman to act fast in the matter.

On Monday, some Indian officials manning the border at Moreh, along with civil and community leaders, met Tamu district administration officials, who assured to extend their best efforts to trace the duo.

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