Imphal. The correctional facility now houses 104 detainees, including 24 men, 74 women, and six minors. These immigrants, all of whom are from Myanmar, entered Indian territory during the last two years.
Following orders from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Manipur government began collecting biometric information on “illegal” immigrants in the state on Saturday.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) sent four representatives to Imphal to help with the process. The representatives will lead and instruct state representatives throughout their three days in Imphal.
The exercise started with the collection of biometric information from citizens of Myanmar at the foreigner detention facility in the Imphal East area, which is close to Sajiwa jail.
The detention facility can house up to 104 detainees, including 24 men, 74 women, and six minors. The previous few years saw them penetrate into Indian territory.
Identifying illegal immigrants in their particular districts has also been mandated, according to Peter Salam, joint secretary of the state’s Home department.
The biometric data collection exercise follows a joint meeting in April in New Delhi with delegates from Manipur and Mizoram as well as MHA officials. According to him, the MHA has directed the state to finish the exercise by September 30.
The state then established a Cabinet subcommittee to identify unlawful immigrants. The joint secretary stated that more than 2,500 such immigrants have been located, and that Chandel had the biggest number—roughly 1,050.
When the procedure is finished, a link to it will be sent to ECI and put to the MHA’s foreigners’ identity webpage. This will stop them from getting Aadhaar, voter ID cards, and applying for entitlements, among other things, added Salam.
Salam stated that of the 718 immigrants from Myanmar who recently entered the state, about 550 were turned away by security personnel. He claimed that they crossed over between July 22 and 23.
“The Myanmar nationals left their country after new unrest emerged there. They have all been located, and whenever the conditions are right, they will all be sent back to their nation, stated Salam.
