Manipur forms population panel to identify ‘illegal immigrants’

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Friday said his government has set up a State Population Commission to identify “illegal immigrants”, adding the government was ready to implement National Register of Citizens (NRC) once it gets approval from the central government, reports NDTV.
“We need the Centre’s approval for NRC to be implemented in the state but with the enactment of the population commission we will be able to detect legal and illegal residents,” Singh said. The announcement comes days after Imphal witnessed massive protests against the government’s alleged “delaying tactics” in implementing the citizens’ register to keep in check the surge in the population of illegal immigrants.
Earlier this week, students along with civil society organisations clashed with police while taking out a march to CM’s official residence. The protesters alleged that the rising influx of outsiders from across borders and neighbouring countries were a threat to the indigenous Manipur population.