60 illegal migrants pushed back while trying to enter Manipur

At least 60 illegal migrant workers, who were trying to enter Manipur through Jiribam border check post at Manipur-Assam border, about 222 km west of here, were pushed back by state police, official sources said today.

Police personnel, led by officer incharge of Jiribam police station, Y Muhindro and foreigner police post officer incharge Tajudin Khan, halted several workers at Jiribam check post yesterday and verified their documents, the sources said.

Sixty workers, who could not speak Manipuri or any tribal dialect and appeared to be Bangladeshi nationals with no valid documents, were found at the other side of the check post in Assam, the sources said, adding they were not allowed to enter Manipur.

Official sources said the state government had already intimated the police about detection of 43 illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar on August 30 last during combing operations in Imphal east and Thoubal districts of Manipur.

Twenty four migrant Bangladeshis were found at Golapati Hatta area in Imphal east district during search operation, while 19 Myanmarese nationals were found at Lilong area in Thoubal district, sources said.

Earlier, official sources had said the 19 Myanmarese migrants were also from Bangladesh but they later clarified that they were from Arakan areas of Myanmar bordering Bangladesh.

Official sources said the 24 Bangladeshi nationals were mostly from Latsahi, Nabganj, Chappai Nabganj and Rajek districts in that country.

Manipur Director General of Police (DGP) Y Joy Kumar said the entry of illegal migrants in the state was a "very serious matter" and all out efforts would be made to identify and deport them to their respective countries.

Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam had earlier said steps had been taken to intensify checking of illegal migrants at three major border points -- Jiribam (Assam-Manipur border), Mao (Manipur-Nagaland border) and Moreh (Manipur-Myanmar border).

Gaikhangam said state police forces had been instructed to maintain strict vigil at the border points and also intensify checking of illegal migrants at all the districts in the state, adding this process would continue in the state for some time.

Meanwhile, Manipur government has initiated process to deport the illegal foreign migrant labourers in the state to their respective countries, official sources said. The Union Home ministry has been urged to take necessary steps in this regard, they said.

While the 24 Bangladeshi migrant labourers were in jail, the Myanmarese migrant labourers were still in police custody, they said.