Asem Bhakta, Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: (Waari Singbul Network) Chief Minister N Biren Singh addressed the pressing issue of illegal immigration from Myanmar in a press briefing held at his official residence on Sunday. He highlighted the dire situation precipitated by the civil unrest in Myanmar, resulting in a surge of displaced individuals entering Manipur unlawfully.
Notably, he informed that Kamjong district alone has detected 5801 illegal immigrants from Myanmar recently.
Among these, 15 have sadly passed away due to natural causes, and 359 have voluntarily returned to Myanmar. However, the current count stands at 5457 illegal migrants still residing in the district, accommodated in designated camps managed by village committees under strict supervision to prevent mingling with the local populace.
Singh emphasized the government’s proactive stance, with measures including biometric identification, humanitarian aid provision, and enhanced security deployment in designated areas. Urgent actions, such as capturing biometrics and appointing nodal officers, have been initiated to address the situation promptly.
Responding to concerns raised by the International Committee of Jurists (ICJ) regarding deportation of Illegal immigrants from Myanmar, Singh underscored the paramount importance of safeguarding the indigenous communities and asserted that deportation is essential to uphold the state’s integrity and security. He also criticized certain activists for their alleged involvement in stoking unrest and emphasized the need for a unified approach towards national security.
Furthermore, Chief Minister Biren Singh reassured the public that the government remains committed to ensuring the welfare of indigenous populations and tackling the challenges posed by illegal immigration effectively.
Notably, the State Cabinet in February 16 2923 had constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Tribal and Hills Areas Minister Letpao Haokip to guide the functioning of the Manipur State Population Commission and other authorities on identification of Myanmarese Immigrants/refugees in the State. After visiting several vulnerable areas along the porous Indo-Myanmar border, the sub committee had detected, in its first survey conducted by February 2023 over 2480 illegal immigrants from Myanmar.
