Manipur CM N Biren Singh assures ongoing surveillance of illegal immigrants entry to state

As a consistent effort to stop influx of illegal immigrant in the state, state government appointed 10 officials of five districts bordering Myanmar to monitor foreigners. 

Addressing media in a press conference held today at his secretariat, chief minister N Biren Singh said that state government has been taking the issue of illegal immigrant as a matter of serious concern for the safety and protection of indigenous people. The state government will continue the initiative of detection and identification of illegal immigrants with all might. 

Reacting to appeal made by International Commission of Jurists that urged to halt deportation process, he said that problem of illegal immigrant has become a serious issue in Manipur as it threatened the demography, history and identity of indigenous people of Manipur. The government is not dealing with illegal immigration under normal circumstances. Any organisation should not interfere in this matter if they don’t have clear cut knowledge of Manipur. 

“We have come across certain news articles in selected media house of an NGO called International Committee of Jurists (ICJ) which has urged India to halt the deportation of Myanmar refuges. This organisation doesn’t have a clear understanding of the ground reality in Manipur,” he expressed. 
Informing the decision taken by government to strengthen the illegal checking process, he said that two official (one civil and one police) each for five districts were appointed to control illegal foreigners. The districts are Ukhrul, Kamjong, Tengnoupal, Chandel and Churanchandpur. 

The appointed nodal officers will identify new settlement, identify illegal immigrants in new settlements and other suspected areas, capture biometrics, upload biometric details in foreigners’ identification portal of ministry of Home Affairs and submit weekly to government along with photographs and videos, he added. 

Biren said that Due to the current civil war in Myanmar a large number of people have been displaced. So far 5801 illegal Myanmar migrants have been detected in Kamjong district till date. Out of it, 15 have expired due to natural causes, 359 have returned to Myanmar and currently, 5457 illegal Myanmar migrants are in the district.

These 5457 migrants are taking shelter in 8 villages in designated camps which are located far from the local habitation to prevent mixing with local people. The migrants are provided identity cards by the District Administration and headcount is done every alternate day and humanitarian relief are provided. They will be deported as per law, he said. 

Biren said that government is not against or bias to any community but the problem of illegal immigrants couldn’t be compromise at any cost. A cabinet sub-committee which was formed on February 16, 2023 to detect illegal immigrants. The committee headed by a minister who belonged to Kuki community, Letpao Haokip and ministers from Naga and Meitei community as a member. This composition of this committee shows that government is not against to any community but to illegal immigrants. 

The committee has started detecting illegal immigrants and identified around 2480 foreigners in some selected villages of Chandel, Kamjong, Tengoupal and Churachandpur. After few months of this identification process, conflict was unfolded which has become a big hindrance in continuing the activity, he added. 

Biren also said that government is also putting all effort to address the ongoing crisis without compromising the core issue of the state.

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