The future of Burmese 'refugees' .... their fortunes and hardships ..... Once Kuki and Tangkhul Naga problems resurfaced in February 2026; the ethnic Burmese also had to face the brunt

Violence most often is linked to human displacement. Such a thing happened in neighbouring Myanmar when the military coup threw out the elected regime. But military takeover was not smooth. In many places; ethnic armed groups resisted the junta. 

The results were - profound human suffering, loss of livelihoods, and many of them - the faceless middleclass and poor ... men and women had to flee and take shelter in Kamjong district of Manipur. 

'Displacement' is not just a word for such ill-fated people.  

GroundZero !!

Thousands are now sheltered in border villages like Phaikoh, Shangkhalok, and Aloyo.

The 'ethnic Burmese' refugees - generally Buddhists - are heavily monitored with the Govt-sponsored biometric recording by the district administration and the Assam Rifles.

The refugee presence in this specific region of Manipur involves several key dynamics.

The refugees include Chin tribes (who have ethnic ties to the Kuki-Zo community), Shan and Burmese communities, and a smaller number of Myanmarese Meiteis. 

                                            (Brighter Kashmir newspaper) 

In 2021 when they came many were housed with the support of the local communities.   The government has conducted biometric registration drives, with thousands of illegal immigrants and refugees identified for future deportation once the situation in Myanmar stabilizes .... hopefully.

An 'evidence' : Burmese beer very popular in India and in violence-hit Manipur 

Humanitarian aid, however, has been distributed to those sheltering in designated camps.  Well, there is story of 'hope' against hope too. 

Twenty-three year old young lady I spoke to is a mother a small kid. Her son was born in the camp. He goes around, shaking hands with "Indian security personnel" and strangers. His mother too interacts with a smile on her face but eyes are moist. 

"We did not deserve this fate," she laments.  

The inmates of the designated refugee camp here are all residents of Upper Kabaw Valley in Myanmar and hailed from small villages such as Ongjia, Phailin and Momo. The Momo village is also known as Mongiang. 

Staring at 'future' : Born in Refugee camp 

The lady and others in the camp could be lamenting about the military coup and the ouster of  former state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. But as they say - the "ill-fate" too follow one like a lazy fielder in the cricket field who has just dropped a few catches. 

In 2026, the 'ethnic Burmese refugees' were attacked by Tangkhul Nagas after the Kuki-Naga clashes reached its crescendo. Even shops run by ethnic Burmese inmates were attacked by angry Naga mob. A number of houses in the designated refugee camp were charred and so where a few shops. 

Some villagers said this happened because Tangkhul Nagas take Kukis as 'ethnically linked or related to Burmese people'.  

Evidence of man-made post-Feb 2026 destruction 

  

Living creatures along the border and near camp

Pig rearing inside a refugee camp 

The refugees in Phaiko and Shangkhalok villages in Kamjong district are Buddhists. But on the other side of international border along Mizoram -- many Christian refugees from Chin have crossed the border to seek refuge in the state of Mizoram. 

It was a different situation in 2021 in Mizoram. The then chief minister Zoramthanga (of MNF and an ally of the BJP) had reportedly said that his state would always welcome any 'ethnic Mizo or other Myanmar citizens' facing persecution for participating in pro-democracy protests in Myanmar. 

Things looked good so far even in Manipur.  But once the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga problems resurfaced in February 2026; the ethnic Burmese also had to face the brunt of people's anguish and hatred.  

India shares an unfenced border stretching 1,643 kilometers with Myanmar, covering the four states of Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. 

Manipur alone shares a 398 km porous with Mizoram while Mizoram shares about 400 km. 

India does not have a national refugee protection framework. 

A Govt of India - Home Ministry letter to state governments in 2021 said that the provincial governments have no power to officially grant refugee status to any foreigner. 

India is also not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.  

Despite this non-signatory status, India hosts one of the largest refugee populations globally, managing asylum seekers on a case-by-case and administrative basis. 

Instead of relying on the UN legal framework, India relies on its own mechanisms, such as issuing Long Term Visas (LTV) and following Standing Operating Procedures from the Ministry of Home Affairs to verify and accommodate persecuted foreign nationals.

A charred motorbike inside the refugee camp 

ends