MMTU asks Centre not to overlook illegal immigrants from Myanmar
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 22 2025: In light of the recent instruction issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) has called for initiation of steps to detect, identify and deport illegal Kuki-Zo immigrants who have crossed over from Myanmar into Manipur within 30 days.

Notably, the MHA issued a directive to States and UTs to detect, identify and deport illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar and to verify the documents of persons suspected to be illegal immigrants within 30 days.

A press release issued by Takhellambam Parijat Singh, organisation secretary, MMTU alleged that MHA's directive appears to focus more on Muslim illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

It accused the Indian Government of failing to view the "foreign Nationals" from Myanmar who have unlawfully entered Manipur as illegal immigrants.

"While Pakistan based groups such as Hizb ul-Mujahidin, LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) etc are seen as dangerous terrorist organisations, the Indian Government continues to ignore Myanmar based groups like KNA (B), PDF, CDF etc who terrorise the indigenous communities of Manipur", said MMTU, in view of the Government's military response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

MMTU maintained that while the Indian Government killed many terrorists and destroyed terrorist infrastructure during "Operation Sindoor", it has failed to launch any concrete steps to tackle the Manipur crisis which has claimed more than 260 lives.

Highlighting the extent of illegal immigration in Manipur, MMTU claimed that illegal Kuki-Zo immigrants from Myanmar have set up more than 2500 "unofficial" villages in Manipur.

In their statement, MMTU also traced the settlement of different groups of "foreign Nationals/refugees" in Manipur throughout history and the subsequent population explosion in districts like Jiribam in 1961 .

On the inclusion of illegal Kuki-Zo immigrants in the voter list in various districts, MMTU said that Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl and Chandel districts have witnessed the greatest increase in population as a result.

Taking this situation into consideration, the issue of illegal immigrants and their addition in the electoral roll in the State needs renewed attention, asserted MMTU.

MMTU went on to question why laws such as the Foreigners Act 1946, Passport Act 1920, Registration Act 1939 have not been properly enforced in Manipur.

Demanding equal enforcement of such laws in the State to stop the settlement of illegal immigrants in indigenous land, MMTU urged the Government to carry out the detection, identification and deportation of illegal immigrants.

Further, MMTU has called for the establishment of a Foreigner Court (Foreigner Tribunal) in every district to ensure that foreigners are duly prosecuted and deported accordingly.

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