Fate of Indians in Myanmar jail uncertain

IMPHAL, July 31: The future of the four Indian nationals undergoing rigorous imprisonment in Myanmar on charges of violating the narcotics act of that country is still uncertain. There is also no record or any first information report (FIR) on the arrest of the four people with Moreh Police station or the district administration so far, according to sources. A social worker of Manipur, M Indrasen, recently visited Myanmar in connection with the arrests. The four Indians were convicted by a divisional court of Myanmar on June 6 in 1996 to 70 years rigorous imprisonment for reportedly violating the narcotics act of Myanmar. The four prisoners are S Gandhi, T. Mani. K. Mani and Y Baite. All of them are from Manipur. The social worker said following an appeal, their jail term had been reduced to 10 years RI. He said that they are now serving their jail term in Mandalay Central Jail. Indrasen said one Boji Khin Maung Myint who holds the post of chairman of the development council of Tamu in Myanmar reportedly told him that the Myanmar government had made no inquiry into the arrest of the four Indians and their conviction. He also alleged that the prolonged silence in this matter by Indian authorities was a gross violation of basic human rights as the voices of the four persons had not reached India.