Over 5,400 'Illegal' Foreign Nationals Detected In Manipur, Deportation Underway: CM Biren Singh

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh today took to X to share that the state administration has detected over five thousand illegal immigrants in the state and the process is underway to deport them. CM Biren Singh's disclosure holds importance given the unrest witnessed by the state in the last year. Manipur shares its border with Myanmar and there have been reports of an influx of illegal migrants from the country into the state. Many reports have claimed the involvement of illegal immigrants in the Manipur unrest.  

"5457 illegal immigrants were detected, biometric data of 5173 of them have been registered. The Government has detected a total of 5457 illegal immigrants in Kamjong District, Manipur as on May 7th, 2024. Out of the total, the biometric data of 5173 such illegal immigrants have been collected so far," said Biren Singh.

The Government has detected a total of 5457 illegal immigrants in Kamjong District, Manipur as on May 7th, 2024. Out of… — N.Biren Singh (Modi Ka Parivar) (@NBirenSingh) May 8, 2024

He further said that the state machinery is working to deport them. "Deportation process is underway. We have been giving humanitarian aides to all the illegal immigrants who have been detected so far. Despite being an alarming situation, we have been handling it with utmost sensitivity," said Singh.

In February this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs scrapped the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar. The FMR allowed residents living near the India-Myanmar border to travel 16km across either side without documentation. The Narendra Modi government also decided to completely fence the 1,643km of its border with Myanmar. The decision to end the FMR was aimed at maintaining the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar, said the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah in his post on ‘X’said, “It is Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji's resolve to secure our borders, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar. Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, MHA has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR.”