In Imphal, the Chief Minister N Biren Singh revealed that the Manipur government has uncovered 5,457 illegal immigrants residing in the Kamjong district, prompting immediate measures for their deportation.
During a recent briefing on X, Singh disclosed that biometric data from 5,173 individuals have been procured. He specifically highlighted the ongoing efforts to gather biometric data from individuals residing in the Phaikoh and Huimi Thana/Sangkalok refugee camps.
Singh emphasized the government’s commitment to extending humanitarian aid to all illegal immigrants, emphasizing the delicate handling of the situation.
In a recent development, 38 more illegal immigrants from Myanmar, who had crossed into Manipur, were deported through Moreh town in Tengnoupal district. Singh informed that a total of 77 such immigrants were deported in the initial phase.
Deportation of illegal immigrants to Myanmar has been initiated by the Manipur government in response to directives from the Union Home Ministry, necessitating heightened vigilance to counter potential backlash.
The Manipur police have been placed on alert due to apprehensions of a backlash. Singh reassured that the government has completed the first phase of deportations, underscoring the ongoing efforts to identify illegal immigrants and record their biometric data to safeguard borders and national security.
As Manipur’s ethnic conflict entered its one-year mark on May 3, efforts to consolidate records have resulted in a significant reduction in violence-related FIRs, from over 11,000 to approximately 3,000, attributed to the registration of duplicate cases and zero FIRs filed during outbreaks of violence.
The prevalence of looted weapons remains a concern for security agencies, with approximately 1,800 weapons recovered or surrendered out of an estimated 6,000. The violence in Manipur has claimed 220 lives and displaced over 50,000 individuals, with attacks on security personnel, including the recent casualties of CRPF personnel in Bishnupur district, posing additional challenges for the government.