Centre's directive to verify immigrants hailed
Weed out illegal immigrants: IPFM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 31 2025: The Indigenous People's Forum, Manipur (IPFM) has submitted a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, urging strict enforcement of the identification and deportation process for illegal immigrants.

Additionally, the Forum also appealed to the Centre to extend the timeframe set for verifying suspected illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar, following the recent directive that instructed States and Union Territories to complete verification within 30 days.

IPFM, in a three page memorandum, signed by president Ashang Kasar and secretary Ramtahung Newme, said that the directive of MHA is highly commendable as it resonates with the repeated appeals made by indigenous organisations including IPFM .

The Forum listed four demands in the memorandum to establish a dedicated verification task force in districts bordering Myanmar, urging the Government to ensure the formation of a State and district level task force to coordinate the verification and deportation process.

It also urged the Government to engage community based organisations to assist in identifying illegal immigrants and create secure data systems and registers to prevent illegal settlement and land encroachment in future.

Stating that unchecked immigration has led to significant demographic shifts in several Manipur districts, resulting in social unrest, land encroachment, environmental degradation (including poppy cultivation), and heightened competition for limited resources, IPFM said that the issue of illegal immigration is no longer just a socio-political matter but has become a matter of National security.

The IPFM stated that despite repeated ,/amings from Manipur's indigenous communities and civil society organizations, the issue of illegal immigration has been inadequately addressed, exacerbating fears and concerns among indigenous groups 'who are witnessing a rapid erosion of their identity, land and traditional way of life' .

While welcoming the MHA's directive as a significant breakthrough in tackling illegal immigration, 'a long-overlooked issue', the Forum expressed concerns that the 30-day timeframe for verification may be impractical, given the task's complexity, particularly in border areas with challenging terrain.

It said that the 30 day window may be insufficient to carry out a thorough and accurate verification process.

The Forum requested the Governor to recommend an extension of the verification process for suspected illegal immigrants beyond the 30-day limit to the Union Government to ensure no suspected individuals escape scrutiny.

"A systematic, transparent and well supported process must be followed to ensure that genuine citizens are protected, while illegal immigrants are firmly and lawfully identified and deported," it said.

The Forum went on to state that the presence of illegal immigrants not only threatens the rights and land ownership of indigenous communities but also contributes to a rise in illegal activities including drug trafficking, arms smuggling and human trafficking across porous borders.

The IPFM noted that then Member of Parliament from Manipur, Paokai Haokip acknowledged the settlement of over 1,500 refugee families in Manipur by 1967 in a letter dated June 20, 1973 addressed to then Minister of State for Home Affairs, KC Pant.

Official documents reveal thousands of refugees were rehabilitated in Manipur with the knowledge and support of the authorities even before Manipur attained full Statehood, it claimed and asked what happened to those refugee families and how they were assimilated into society.

What about the recent influx of illegal immigrants in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal and Kamjong, it further asked.

Saying that indigenous people of Manipur have always been loyal to the country, the IPFM asserted that protection of indigenous people of Manipur is not only a Constitutional duty of the State and the Union Government but also a moral obligation to preserve the unique identity, heritage and rights of the original inhabitant of the region.

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