Illegal migrants majority in interior Manipur constituency

Illegal migrants, who entered into interior Jiribam sub-division, bordering Cachar district of Assam, over the years, have become a majority in Jiribam Manipur Assembly constituency, a powerful local organisation today alleged.

The Joint Action Committee on Inner Line Permit, which has been vigorously campaigning against infiltration of illegal migrants and influx of people from other states, said that of about 28,000 voters in the Jiribam Assembly constituency, about 20,000 voters were former illegal migrants.

Sapamcha Jadumani, convenor of the JACILP, along with other senior JACILP members, who conducted a massive survey in the Jiribam sub-division last week, alleged only about 8000 voters were indigenous people, particularly Meiteis and some tribals.

He appealed to the Zonal Education Officer and other officials concerned in the sub-division to make necessary steps for enabling Manipuri students to study Manipuri in the school.

Demanding immediate enforcement of inner line permit system in Manipur, like in Nagaland and Mizoram, Jadumani said Manipuris constituted a 'microscopic' section of population in the country and every effort should be made to protect their identity, culture and customs.

Official sources said the Manipur government recently stepped up checking of illegal migrants at three border points - Jiribam (Assam-Manipur), Moreh (Manipur-Myanmar) and Mao (Manipur-Nagaland) by deploying more state forces there.

They said about 100 illegal migrants, including Myanmarese Muslims, who infiltred into the state through Jiribam and Moreh were detected last month.