Source: The Sangai Express
Mumbai, August 30:
Accusing Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of 'backing' infiltration of Bangladeshi�s Muslims into north-eastern parts of the country, former Manipur Minister and Federal Party of Manipur vice president Gangmumei Kamei today said 'illegal immigrants are posing a serious problem'.
"The ratio of Muslims is rising...they are enrolled in our electoral rolls, marrying local women and acquiring land.
It is a real serious issue," Kamei, who was here to attend the golden jubilee celebration of the "Akhil Bharatiya Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram" on August 26, told reporters here.
On the issue of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, he said "it is more dangerous than POTA...Under the act, even soldiers have po-wers to kill, search and arrest can be conducted without any warrant and they enjoy judicial and legal immunity", he said referring to the recent killing of Manorama Devi.
Though the armed forces enjoy special powers to contain insurgency, it is on the rise ever since the act came into force 24 years ago in Manipur, Kamei claimed.
Asserting that the Act must go, he said, however, the armed forces can enjoy special powers in "disturbed areas" only to fight the insurgency.