Manipur Discovers Over 10,000 Illegal Immigrants in Five Years, Pushes to Scrap Free Movement Regime

In the northeastern state of Manipur, the detection of over 10,000 illegal immigrants over the past five years has prompted a significant policy shift. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh recently disclosed this alarming statistic, highlighting the urgent need to address border security concerns. The majority of these immigrants hail from Myanmar, a neighboring country with which India shares a long and often porous border.

During a session in the Manipur Assembly, the Chief Minister informed the legislators that 10,675 illegal immigrants had been identified in the state since 2018. This figure includes nationals from not only Myanmar but also Bangladesh, Norway, China, and Nepal. In response to this situation, the state government has suspended the Free Movement Regime (FMR) since June 29, 2021, and has requested the Ministry of External Affairs to permanently abolish the FMR.

The Free Movement Regime, a policy that permits residents within 16 kilometers of the border to travel freely into the neighboring country without a passport or visa, was initially designed to facilitate cross-border trade and cultural exchange among communities that straddle the India-Myanmar border. However, the recent influx of illegal immigrants has raised significant security concerns, prompting calls for its termination.

To bolster border security, the Manipur government is setting up six new police stations and 34 police outposts along the 398-kilometer border with Myanmar. This move aims to curb further infiltration and ensure the safety of border villages. Additionally, a committee has been established to conduct verification drives for identifying illegal Myanmar immigrants in several districts, including Churachandpur, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, and Pherzawl.

The Chief Minister revealed that before the outbreak of violence in the state on May 3 last year, the committee had already detected 2,480 illegal Myanmar immigrants. In a bid to strengthen border security, the Central government has announced plans to fence the entire India-Myanmar border. The fencing work along Manipur has already commenced, marking a critical step in preventing unauthorized crossings.

District police have been instructed to maintain strict surveillance and conduct frequent patrols along the border to detect illegal immigrants. Those found are confined to temporary shelter homes located in border villages, where they receive humanitarian support after proper identification and verification through biometric and biographic data collection.

Despite these efforts, the challenges remain significant. Only around 85 immigrants have been deported, while approximately 143 remain in detention centers. The state government has incurred over Rs 85.55 lakh for the maintenance of detainees in these centers, underscoring the financial burden of managing illegal immigration.

Home Minister Amit Shah has echoed the state government's stance, advocating for the complete scrapping of the Free Movement Regime and the erection of a comprehensive border fence along the 1,643-kilometer India-Myanmar border. This measure is seen as essential for maintaining the internal security of India and preserving the demographic structure of northeastern states bordering Myanmar.

The complex situation in Manipur highlights the delicate balance between facilitating cross-border relations and ensuring national security. As the state moves towards stricter border controls and enhanced verification processes, the fate of the Free Movement Regime hangs in the balance, with significant implications for both India and Myanmar.