CM notes challenges of illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh
Facial recognition system for ILP launched
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, May 02 2023: Chief Minister N Biren Singh today launched a Facial Recognition System (FRS) for Inner Line Permit System and flagged off two camera mounted mobile FRS vehicles from his Secretariat.

Addressing media persons at the launching event, the Chief Minister said the FRS launched today would help in checking validity of Inner Line Permits effectively and in better management of the ILP System.

Considering the need to implement use of modern technology in the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the State, the State Government after seeking approval from the Union Home Ministry, engaged a reputed international firm for installation of the FRS, Biren said.

With the untiring effort of the teams involved, the system has been implemented on a trial basis for some time now, he said, adding that even during the trial period, the system had managed to identify ILPS defaulters.

CM notes challenges of illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh

Two non-locals who did not possess ILPs were pulled up from Imphal Airport and Ima Market on April 30 and May 1 respectively with the help of FRS, he said.

The Government has been working hard to differentiate between domestic tourists who come from other parts of India and illegal immigrants from foreign countries, particularly Myanmar and Bangladesh, Biren continued.

He stated that Manipur has been facing serious challenges from illegal immigrants who come from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

N Biren said the FRS system has been installed at various places including at the Imphal Airport (four cameras), Jiribam (four cameras), and efforts are on to install it at other places including Khwairamband Ima Keithel, Khongsang Railway Station, Mao, Moreh and Behiang etc.

On top of this, two mobile vehicles would be stationed at different locations in Imphal East and Imphal West districts to identify ILP defaulters, he said, adding that in the long run, FRS would facilitate a smoother entry and exit system for permit applicants/holders into/from the State, Biren said.

Biren said that approximately 410 Myanmar Nationals without proper valid documents have been arrested.

The Chief Minister said the Government has been giving special focus and thrust to check illegal immigrants.

The committee set up to check illegal immigrants has identified more than 2000 numbers of Myanmarese who entered the State due to the conflict in their country and are being kept in shelter homes, he said.

Expressing deep concern over the issue of illegal immigrants, the Chief Minister pointed out that Manipur shares around 398 Kms long porous border with Myanmar.

"However, despite cancelling the Free Movement Regime, which allowed travel up to 16 Kms on both sides, we are still unable to effectively deal with the illegal immigrant issue", he said.

The Chief Minister appealed to the people of Manipur specially those living in the border districts to cooperate with the Government, in the larger interest of India's and Manipur's security, and help in identifying illegal immigrants so that the Government may put them in proper shelter homes.

Their fingerprints have also been collected, he added.

The ILPS was implemented in the State with the approval of the Central Government to give a layer of protection to the local population, the Chief Minister said and added that the Government would not compromise on its implementation.

Law and order is an internal matter and State subject and outsiders should refrain from meddling in such issues, the Chief Minister said.

The Government cannot stop checking individuals coming from outside the State for ILPs, he asserted while highlighting that out of seven Myanmarese arrested recently from the airport during routine ILP checking, five of them had identity documents obtained from Mizoram.

Strangely, an NGO based in Mizoram was saying that the Myanmarese people who were given ILPs in Mizoram should not be checked in Manipur.

This is simply unacceptable, Biren asserted.

Noting that two/three student organisations based in Manipur have expressed support to the Mizoram NGO's bizarre assertion, the Chief Minister appealed to all concerned to refrain from lending support to such an unacceptable proposition.

Categorically stating that the Government of Manipur would continue to check all the people who come from Mizoram including Myanmar Nationals for ILPs and other requisite documents, Biren said that the Government of Mizoram may check the people who come from Manipur for ILP.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also appreciated all the CSOs, village chiefs, villagers and Church leaders who have come out unitedly against poppy plantation and said that total eradication of illegal drugs and poppy plantation from the State is a commitment of the Government.

On April 30, two persons were arrested along with 16 Kgs of opium and one Kenbo bike from Singngat area in Churachandpur, the Chief Minister said further stating that a drug kingpin has also been arrested recently.

Following reports of seizure of illegal drugs at Assam recently which originated from Manipur, a special team of the NAB had investigated the case resulting in the arrest of a kingpin identified as Chandan Gupta, presently residing at Maram Bazar, Senapati.

During investigation, he revealed that he had sold 562 numbers of soap cases of illegal drugs in Dimapur and Guwahati.

Further investigation of his bank accounts has shown transactions of about Rs 1 crore, Biren said.

Acting on his revelation, two of his accomplices identified as Deepak Kumar Jaiswal from UP, presently staying at Maram Bazar and K Athini of Senapati district were arrested.

Today's event was also attended by Ministers Thongam Biswajit Singh, Yumnam Khemchand, Konthoujam Govindas, Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh, Heikham Dingo Singh MLA Sapam Kunjakeswor Singh and DGP P Doungel, among others.