Myanmarese national Em Abhi. Telegraph picture

Paradip, Sept. 1: Meet 28-year-old Em Abhi. This Myanmar national once intruded into India but has lived on here to do a translator’s job for the local police.

In 2000, Abhi was arrested after his fishing vessel strayed into Indian waters. The coast guard intercepted the vessel and arrested 13 crew members, including Abhi.

“We were arrested for unlawful entry into Indian territory. There were some Thai national among the crew,” Abhi, who hails from Mawlamyle province of Myanmar, said.

The cops produced him in court and after trial, Abhi and his crew members were convicted. “I spent 14 months in Kujang sub-jail,” he said.

“After coming out of jail, destiny again played a cruel joke. We were kept in a home under police watch. Officials from Myanmar embassy visited us but we were disowned. The police later allowed us to roam free and I landed at Sandhakuda fishermen’s colony. Since then, India has been my permanent home,” said Abhi.

But the man who was once arrested as an illegal immigrant is now friend to the police. Myanmar nationals are often arrested for trespassing into Indian territory and Abhi is summoned by the police to act as an interpreter.

As he knew that returning to Myanmar is impossible, he chalked out plans to stay on in Paradip.

The young man is living a content life with his Telegu-speaking wife and two kids.

“I have fallen in love with the serene seaside settlement colony and the people here. It’s from here that I got my life partner Ch. Manga. My wife’s parents were opposed to our marriage and I had to elope with her. We got married on July 8, 2004, in Bhubaneswar. I am the proud father of two sons,” Abhi said.

“I am a Myanmar national by birth, but I am now an India by heart. I love the people here and would love to die here. I am earning my livelihood from marine fishing,” he said.

Abhi has got the right to vote. The Election Commission of India has issued him a voters’ card (YGU 174060).

“The enumerators included my name in the voters’ list. Then I received a photo identity card,” Abhi said flaunting the voter photo ID card.

Asked if he still longed to return to his land and get back to his near and dear ones, Abhi seems conscious about the import of any show of emotion. He said: “I have long forgotten my parents.”

“People here are cooperative. The police are also sympathetic as I solve their problem whenever any Myanmar national is arrested. I speak to them in Myanmarese and then translate it in Oriya for the cops,” he said.

Abhi had picked up Oriya and Hindi within a few months of coming out of jail.

“We are looking into the antecedents of the alleged foreign national. The matter is being inquired and legal action will be initiated on the basis of the findings,” said additional district magistrate Saroj Kanta Choudhury.

“As the suspected Myanmar national is in possession of voters’ identity card, he is an Indian in the eyes of law. We seek his assistance when crews of foreign fishing vessels are arrested. He translates what they say into Oriya helping us to expedite investigation,” said Tezraj Patel, inspector Paradip marine police station. However, Patel’s boss is in the dark about Abhi and the help that he provides to the police.

“I am not aware of an illegal immigrant settling in Paradip. Once we receive a complaint, the matter will be investigated,” said S. Devidutt Singh, superintendent of police, Jagatsinghpur.