Manipur Police have launched a major state-wide operation to detect and deport illegal immigrants from Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. New SOPs, task forces, and strict border vigilance are in place following government directives to secure boundaries and prevent unauthorized infiltration.
In a major step to address rising concerns over illegal immigration, the Manipur Police have initiated an intensive state-wide search operation aimed at identifying and apprehending unauthorized foreign nationals residing in the state. The drive, which commenced this week, is focused on detecting infiltrators from neighbouring countries, including Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
A senior Manipur Police official confirmed on Friday that the department has launched these operations with utmost seriousness in response to increasing challenges to the state’s internal security. Illegal migrants, particularly Bangladeshi nationals, Rohingyas from Myanmar, and even Pakistani citizens, have become a focal point of law enforcement concern.
To address the situation systematically, the Manipur Police Headquarters has issued revised and comprehensive instructions to all 16 district Superintendents of Police. These directives outline detailed procedures for the detection, restriction of movement, and deportation of illegal immigrants. The goal is to ensure uniform implementation across all districts.
“In addition, a comprehensive standard operating procedure (SOP) for verification and detection of illegal immigrants has been shared with all district authorities,” the senior official stated. This SOP specifically includes steps to verify suspected Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals as well and ensures coordinated actions at the grassroots level.
To enforce the new directives effectively, Special Task Forces (STFs) have been formed in each of the 16 districts of the state. These STFs are empowered to detect and identify unauthorized foreign nationals and initiate appropriate legal proceedings. The task forces will also coordinate with central armed forces and biometric teams as required.
High-level police officers are conducting regular reviews to evaluate the progress of these operations. “This is not a one-time exercise. The vigilance and enforcement will be sustained and thorough,” added the official.
These developments follow a July 23 order issued by Manipur’s Commissioner (Home), N. Ashok Kumar, in which all district administrations were instructed to maintain the highest vigilance along the state’s borders. The directive highlighted concerns of increased illegal migration due to unrest in neighbouring countries, especially Myanmar, and potential infiltration through porous borders shared by Assam and Mizoram with Bangladesh.
In line with this order, Kumar called for the formation of district-level task forces, headed by the Additional Superintendent of Police. Each task force must include an official from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, representatives from security forces such as the Assam Rifles, BSF, or CRPF, and biometric personnel for capturing identity records of detected migrants.
The Commissioner’s directive emphasized strict surveillance along international, inter-state, and inter-district boundaries. “Any illegal movement should be immediately reported. Biometric data must be captured mandatorily,” the order stated. Migrants found crossing into Manipur illegally are to be held at secured and designated shelters, where they will receive humanitarian assistance without the opportunity to mingle with local populations or obtain legal status.
Furthermore, the order mandates the deportation of all detected illegal immigrants following established legal procedures. District Deputy Commissioners have also been tasked with continuously monitoring exit-entry points governed by the Border Pass System. Defaulters and overstaying foreign nationals are to be tracked down through local police investigations.
Although Manipur does not directly share a border with Bangladesh, infiltration risks persist through neighboring Assam and Mizoram, both of which have porous borders with Bangladesh. Manipur itself shares approximately 400 kilometers of unfenced international border with Myanmar, which has become a key concern amid ongoing conflict and instability in the region.
Security experts have warned that ongoing violence and political instability in Myanmar could prompt a rise in cross-border migration, including Rohingya refugees. At the same time, the porous land routes connecting India’s northeast to Bangladesh raise fears of broader regional infiltration by illegal migrants, including those with criminal or extremist backgrounds.
| Also Read: Northeast states form task forces to stop illegal infiltration |
The Manipur government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national security and maintaining demographic integrity. These intensified operations represent a decisive move to counter the growing concerns of illegal migration and its potential impact on the socio-political fabric of the state.
