12 insurgents handed over by Myanmar, 206 others test COVID negative in Manipur

Imphal, May 17 () A total of 218 people, including12 of the 22 insurgents handed over to India by Myanmarrecently, were tested negative for COVID-19 on Sunday, anofficial said here.

Manipur authorities have got the custody of the 12militants on Friday.

Their samples tested negative for novel coronavirus,health department spokesperson Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangangsaid.

The Myanmarese army on Friday had handed over to India22 insurgents wanted in Assam and Manipur in a clandestineoperation monitored by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.The insurgents were brought from India's eastern neighbour ina special aircraft.

Of the 22, 10 were Bodo and Kamtapur insurgents whowere kept under quarantine by the Assam Police. Theremaining 12 were militants from Manipur.

The 206 other people who also tested negative for thedisease included people of Manipur, who had been strandedoutside because of the nationwide lockdown and returned to thestate.

The tests were conducted at the laboratories of theRegional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and theJawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS)hospitals here. CORNN NN