As many as 81 Myanmar nationals, including 10 minors, were arrested in Moreh, Tengnoupal district, Manipur on Friday, for illegal immigration.

According to police, the arrested immigrants were settled in and around New Salbung village and H Lhangcham village, located 7km south from Moreh police station, Tengnoupal district. A suo-moto case has been filed under section 14 Foreigners Act for investigation.

Following the case, Tengnoupal SP informed the secretary (home), government of Manipur that the arrested persons would be produced before the court for further legal process.

The secretary (home) has notified the DGP, Manipur to open and activate a Foreigner Detention Centre at the newly constructed unused building in Sajiwa prison complex.

Further, he directed to provide vehicles to transport the Myanmar nationals and to transfer them, as soon as court proceedings allowing their transportation is obtained, to the Foreigner Detention Centre and hand them over to the prisons and correctional department officers, and to provide security enroute while transporting the Myanmar nationals.

Meanwhile, the home secretary declared ‘Foreigner Detention Centre’ at the southern side of Sajiwa complex, which is outside the Sajiwa prison, for detention of illegal immigrants with immediate effect and until further order.

The Myanmar nationals included one Thanglun Haokip, 70, son of (L) Rengtun Haokip, Tamu district, Myanmar; Khaikhup Haokip, 63, son of Gouchinpao Haokip of Tamu district, Myanmar and others.