Collecting biometrics of illegal Myanmar immigrants in Manipur & Mizoram begins
Following an instruction from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Mizoram and Manipur governments has begun the process of collecting biometric information from Myanmar nationals
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On the orders of the Home Ministry, the Manipur government began collecting biometrics of illegal Myanmar immigrants in the northeastern state on Saturday, an official said, adding that the procedure would be finished by September.
On Saturday, a team of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) personnel delegated by the Home Ministry aided state government authorities in collecting biometrics of illegal immigrants at the Foreigners' Detention Centre in Sajiwa in Imphal East district.
The practice will be repeated in all districts until all unlawful Myanmar immigrants in the state's data were gathered.
Newsbharati reported the entry of 718 Myanmar people, including 301 children and 208 women, entered Manipur's Chandel region on July 22 and 23 in its article.
Myanmar citizens are presently residing in seven villages along the India-Myanmar border in the Chandel district: Lajang, Bonse, New Samtal, New Lajang, Yangnomphai, Yangnomphai Saw Mill, and Aivomjang.
On July 24, Manipur Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi directed the Assam Rifles to repel the Myanmar nationals.
"The government has requested a detailed report from the Assam Rifles to clarify the facts and reasons for allowing these 718 Myanmar nationals to enter India in the Chandel district without proper travel documents." "The state government has strongly advised the Assam Rifles to immediately deport those 718 illegal Myanmar nationals," the Chief Secretary stated.
According to Joshi, the state administration has directed the Assam Rifles to take stringent measures to prevent Myanmar people from entering Manipur on any grounds without a valid visa and travel papers, in accordance with the Home Ministry's orders.
"The state government takes the new illegal entry of 718 refugees very seriously and with sensitivity, as it may have international ramifications, particularly in light of the ongoing law and order issues," he stated.
The Chief Secretary had directed the Chandel district's Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to deal with the problem appropriately and to keep biometrics and images of all such individuals.
Biometric data collection begins in Mizoram
Following an instruction from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Mizoram has begun the process of collecting biometric information from Myanmar nationals living in the state, an official said on Sunday. Since February 2021, when Myanmar's military regime conducted a coup, around 30,000 Myanmar citizens have sought refuge in Mizoram.
Last week, state home department officer on special duty-cum-joint secretary David H Lalthangliana informed news agency PTI that a pilot initiative to collect biometric data from Myanmar nationals was initiated in all 11 districts of the state. He said that the practice was taking place at relief camps
Mr Lalthangliana explained that the exercise could not be started right away since the original format needed to be changed in order to collect data from Myanmar nationals.
The Mizoram government has previously profiled and given identity cards to Myanmar nationals on its own.
Previously, Chief Minister Zoramthanga had protested to the Centre's orders to deport Myanmar nationals.
The chief minister stated that Mizoram could not turn back Myanmar people since they belonged to the same ethnic group, and that he had to offer sanctuary on humanitarian grounds.
The bulk of Myanmar nationals are housed in relief camps, while some reside in leased houses or with family.
Food is provided by the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), churches, and locals, and they sustain themselves by working as day laborers.
Manipur has a 400-kilometer unfenced border with Myanmar, whereas Mizoram has a 510-kilometer border with Myanmar.
