Forty three foreign nationals including Bangladeshis rounded up
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 30, 2012: In a pre-dawn operation launched by teams of Manipur police at Lilong and Hatta Golapati areas a total of 43 foreign nationals, including 24 Bangladeshis and 19 Myanmarese, have been rounded up.

According to Home Minister Gaikhangam, Manipur police personnel carried out the special drive from the wee hours of today based on information about presence of large number of foreign nationals in these two Muslim dominated areas of Imphal East and Thoubal districts.

Talking to some newspersons, Gaikhangam informed that a total of 150 individuals were actually rounded up from Hatta and lilong areas, with the foreign nationals identified during a verification process at 2nd Bn Manipur Rifles campus.

On the otherhand, Director General of Police Yumnam Joykumar told The Sangai Express that all 19 Myanmar nationals, including two women and three children, are from Arakan region of the neighbouring country.

The Bangladeshis rounded up in today's operation mostly hail from Latsahi, Nabganj, Chappai Nabganj and Rajek districts of Bangladesh, informed the State police chief.

It is also said that out of the total of 150 persons rounded up from the two locations, 32 are from Silchar of Assam, 62 from West Bengal and 32 from Bihar.

While conveying that almost all the foreign nationals as well as the migrant workers were staying at rented quarters at the two places and were engaged in menial works, Joykumar confided that further intense verification is underway at the MR campus to authenticate their identities/antecedents.

Foreigner suspects rounded up for verification during the drive

He also explained that even though many of the people rounded up today claimed to be from other parts/states of India non possession of identification documents necessitates further verification.

With regard to confirmation of 43 individuals illegally staying in the State, relevant cases have been registered under the Foreigners' Act, said the DGP.

In the meantime, Home Minister Gaikhangam asserted that appropriate action as per the law of the land would be initiated against the foreign nationals who entered Manipur in an illegal manner with the DGP already taking up relevant measures to deport the foreigners to their respective countries.

On being queried about the belated drive inspite of reports regarding entry or presence of foreign nationals in Manipur, the Minister contended that as the issue is both delicate and sensitive utmost care had to be taken to avoid public backlash against the police action.

However, based on specific information about presence of large number of foreign nationals, today's operation was carried out subsequently justifying the specific drive with the detection of a number of foreigners, Gaikhangam expressed.

Consequent to detection of the foreign nationals today, security forces have been instructed to maintain strict vigil in border areas to check illegal entry of foreigners with similar advisory relayed to police personnel manning Mao, Moreh and Jiribam check posts, the Home Minister stated.

Expressing that the crackdown on foreign nationals indicates commitment of the Government to effectively tackle the issue of illegal entry of migrant workers and foreigners into Manipur, Gaikhangam nevertheless conceded that owing to manpower inadequacy of Manipur Police the task is still a challenging one.

He also confided that financial constraints besieging Government of Manipur is impeding initiation of relevant processes to recruit more police personnel for plugging the shortage of over 4000 personnel.

With the Government making all out effort to address the financial situation it is highly possible that the police recruitment exercise would commence at the earliest to ensure all outstanding problems are tackled in an effective manner, Gaikhangam maintained.

The DGP is also informed to have reissued strong instructions to check illegal entry of foreigners from the three main routes that connect Manipur with other parts of the country as well as neighbouring nations.

It is pertinent to mention that security force units, including Assam Rifles had frequently reported apprehending foreign nationals from different locations, particularly from along the imphal-Moreh section of NH-39 .