Imphal: In a significant announcement, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh asserted on January 12 that individuals entering the state after 1961, the base year for the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, would be identified and deported. This proclamation comes in the wake of the Chief Minister’s acknowledgment of over 12,000 refugees from Myanmar currently residing in various districts across the state. CM Singh also expressed concerns about illegal immigrants, particularly those from the Chun Kuki tribes in neighbouring countries, who are residing without proper documentation.
He said, “irrespective of caste or community, anyone coming into the State after 1961 which is the base year for Inner Line Permit System will be identified and deported.”
The Chief Minister attributed the state’s recent bout of violence to the drug mafia and illegal migrants, with a specific focus on refugees from Myanmar. CM Singh underscored the significance of 1961 as the base year for the ILP system in Manipur, a regulation initially enforced during British rule under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. Although it was withdrawn in 1950, the Centre reintroduced it in December 2019 following extensive protests.
Manipuri society has been grappling with ethnic violence since May 2023, fueled by terror groups based in Myanmar and drug mafia groups along the border. CM Singh, along with the Governor of Manipur, has repeatedly pointed to the involvement of drug cartels and Myanmar militant groups in the ongoing violence. The unchecked influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar has become a pressing issue for the state, exacerbated by the Free Movement Regime at the border.
Despite the Centre’s announcement of the abolition of the Free Movement Regime and border sealing, the influx persists, posing an identity crisis for the indigenous Manipuris. CM Singh’s declaration of the deportation of illegal intruders has received positive reactions from Meitei organisations, while concerns linger about the potential response from the Chin Kuki community.
Speaking at the inauguration of Project Buniyaad – Atma Nirbharta Ka Aadhar in Imphal, CM N Biren Singh highlighted the need for a peaceful Manipur. Project Buniyaad, a Skill Development Programme on Hospitality Management, is a collaborative effort by the Honda India Foundation, Manipur State Rural Livelihood Mission, and Visan Foundation. The initiative aims to provide employment opportunities for unemployed youth from marginalised sections of society, contributing to the overall development and stability of the region.
