House approves panel to scout illegal immigrants
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 06 2024: The Manipur Legislative Assembly has resolved to form a House committee to identify and deport illegal migrants from the state.

The proposal made by chief minister N Biren during Tuesday's sitting and supported by opposition leader O Ibobi was preceded by a calling attention motion moved by Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing, highlighting the serious challenges posed by illegal migration.

In response to the motion, CM Biren regretted that there are some persons refusing to acknowledge impact of illegal immigrants while at least 40 per cent of the people seem unaware about the demographic imbalance.

It also appears that some members of the House are not convinced with such official figure, he said proposing constitution of a House Committee to identify the illegal immigrants.

Biren also called for unity and sincerity in taking up the exercise.

Noting conflict of opinion between those who believe in illegal immigrants in the state and those who do not, the chief minister expressed that forming a House Committee would help in impressing the detractors on the current state of illegal migration and its impact on the state's demography.

For instance, he said, the 398 km long border stretch in Kamjong district is forested areas and it would be impossible to track entry of illegal immigrants.

Following the military coup in Myanmar in 2021, the government initiated biometric capturing exercise to detect illegal immigrants by forming a cabinet sub-committee with minister Letpao Haokip as the chairman after consulting the PMO and the MHA.

Another committee of bureaucrat officers was also formed, he said.

As per the Indian Foreigner Act, SPs deployed in border areas have the power of Foreigner Returning Officer and they can identify and deport foreigners.

Biometric capturing was taken up under the Act so that they could be easily weeded out in case they tried to get citizenship.

In the initial stage, 2480 illegal immigrants were detected and the committee also reported about some areas where they could not enter.

Consequently, an order was issued cautioning home owners harbouring illegal immigrants of legal actions.

In one case, around 150 illegal immigrants were rounded up from a weaving shed in Churachandpur district.

There are also reported cases of illegal immigrants entering through Kamjong border for which the government arranged temporary camps.

India does not legally entertain refugees but they are allowed to stay in the camps on humanitarian ground with approval from the Centre so that they could return to their country after the situation improves there.

District level teams with one SDPO each, for taking up relevant measures, have been formed for Kamjong, Tengnoupal, Churachandpur and Chandel districts under the supervision of their respective DCs, elaborated the CM.

He also maintained that of the 10,675 registered illegal immigrants, 2619 have been deported and opined that they may reenter if the situation there is not conducive.

Satellite mapping confirmed emergence of new villages after May 3 last year and it needs strong action with support from the Centre, he said while stressing the need for identifying and deporting illegal immigrants, who entered the state after 1961, which is the base year of ILP system in the state.

N Biren said illegal immigration is a grave threat to the state s indigenous people and asserted that those who entered after 1961 should be deported with central government's help.

He said the state has a 398-km porous and unguarded international border with Myanmar, which complicates the detection of illegal immigrants.

The CM mentioned that new villages have been set up by illegal immigrants, with some areas inaccessible due to local conflicts with the Myanmar-based People s Defence Force (PDF).

Biren asserted that those who entered the state before 1961 are permanent citizens but those who came later need to be deported with the assistance of the central government.

Over the past five years, 10,675 illegal immigrants, including those from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Norway, China, and Nepal, have been detected.

Among them, 85 were deported, 143 were placed in detention centres, and the remainder were housed in temporary shelters.

The state has spent over Rs 85 lakh on managing these immigrants, the CM said, adding that Kamjong district has the highest number of illegal immigrants (6,199), followed by Tengnoupal (2,406) and Chandel (1,895).Moving the motion, MLA Leishiyo Keishing raised concerns on the rising number of illegal immigrants, many of whom are possibly not on record.

He said that these illegal immigrants are also affecting the natives as they are offered odd jobs on comparatively low payment.

As such,, the MLA sought attention of the House for discuss on a clearly defined policy for the illegal immigrants and expressed suspicion on the recorded number of illegal immigrants in Tengnoupal (2409), Chandel (1895) and Churachandpur (150) districts as their number has reached 6199 in Kamjong ditrict alone.

Calling it as a national issue, MLA Leishiyo emphasised the need for a national commitment in resolving the issue as well as enacting a law on illegal immigration while adding that NRC is just a tool for detecting those who have already entered the country.

In his address, CLP leader Okram Ibobi said that the opposition welcomes and supports the proposal to form the House Committee.

He also drew attention of the House to form the committee with knowledge of the Prime Minister in order to make the initiative effective.

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