Manipur Completes First Phase of Deportation of Illegal Immigrants from Myanmar

Manipur has successfully completed the first phase of deportation of illegal immigrants from Myanmar on May 2, with 38 immigrants departing India through Moreh. The process was executed without any discrimination. In addition, one Indian national was repatriated from Myanmar during the handover ceremony.

The State Government is consistently identifying illegal immigrants and recording their biometric data to ensure the security of the nation's borders and the country itself.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh issued a warning on April 29, drawing attention to the alarming emergence of 996 new villages attributed to illegal immigration. In a post on the microblogging site X, Singh underscored the grave threat this phenomenon poses to both indigenous communities and national security.

Singh's post addressed a pressing issue that has been affecting Manipur, and indeed the entire nation, for years. Since 2006, there has been a surge in the establishment of new villages across Manipur, largely driven by an unchecked influx of illegal immigrants from neighbouring Myanmar. This influx has not only transformed the demographic landscape but has also led to the widespread destruction of forest cover, primarily to accommodate settlements and illicit activities such as poppy plantations.

Moreover, the encroachment by these illegal immigrants on resources, job opportunities, land, and the rights of indigenous populations has intensified tensions within the region.