Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday appreciated the Manipur government for its recent move to curb influx of illegal migrants into the state.
Amid escalating concerns over a potential influx of illegal migrants ‘due to unrest in neighbouring countries’, the Manipur government has initiated preventive measures across all districts to curb the influx of illegal migrants into the state.
The former chief minister appreciated the state government “for taking strong and timely steps to protect the state from the growing threat of illegal migration.’
“Glad to see the efforts continue. This journey began in 2017 with proactive border vigilance and reforms. Safeguarding our land and identity must remain a shared priority,” he wrote in posts on his social media platforms.
Earlier, Singh, in posts, sounded an alarm while informing that the Nagaland government was issuing advisory on curbing illegal migrants and steps are being initiated by Mizoram government to collect biometrics for Myanmar refugees.
“Nagaland Government’s alert advisory has been issued. Similarly, Mizoram has begun collecting biometrics from nearly 30,000 Myanmar refugees,” he had written in the posts.
On Wednesday, home department of Manipur government issued an office memorandum instructing all district administration across the state to tighten border surveillance and take immediate preventive actions, in an office memorandum issued by the state home department late on Wednesday.
The government memorandum instructed all deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to “keep a robust mechanism to prevent anyone from crossing into state boundaries illegally” and to “maintain utmost vigil at international, inter-state and inter-district boundaries to prevent any such movement.”
The office memorandum stressed the importance of quick and proper identification.
“Any such movement, if detected, should be immediately reported and biographic and biometric details of such persons be captured mandatorily,” the memorandum added.
Top officials of the district administrations were instructed to ensure that illegal migrants were placed in secured and designated shelters.
“They must be provided humanitarian support without allowing them to get mixed up or naturalized with the local populace,” the office memorandum read.
On the legal course of action, the memorandum stated, “All such illegal migrants shall be deported after following due procedures.”
The government has also ordered the formation of district-level committees, saying, “All deputy commissioners shall constitute district level committees with members from district police to conduct checking at all suspected locations and shall conduct regular review of the same.”
Moreover, the district administrations were advised for stricter oversight of regulated entry systems. “Deputy Commissioners shall regularly monitor the exit-entry points under the border pass system. Tracing of defaulters or overstayed cases shall be done through district police.”
The formation of a special district-level task force was also mandated.
“District level task force for checking illegal migrants shall have to be made operational at the earliest,” the home department stated in the office memorandum.
“The task force will be led by the additional superintendent of Police, with support from an officer from the DC’s office not below the rank of sub-deputy collector, a representative from Assam Rifles, BSF, or CRPF as determined by the team leader, and biometric staff for documentation.”