Imphal: Amid escalating concerns over a potential influx of illegal migrants ‘due to unrest in neighbouring countries’, Manipur government issued a stringent instruction directing top district officials to tighten border surveillance and take immediate preventive actions, on Wednesday.
The government 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 instruction 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.”
Officials have been instructed to ensure that illegal migrants are placed in secured and designated shelters. “They must be provided humanitarian support without allowing them to get mixed up or naturalised with the local populace,” the government clarified.
On the legal course of action, the directive 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.”
Additionally, the advisory called 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 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.”
According to a senior official from the Home department, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the government is taking proactive measures to prevent any demographic or security challenges stemming from the regional crisis. “This is a preventive step, not a reactive one. The state does not want to be caught off guard in case the situation worsens across the border.”
