1. Manipur MLA Leishiyo Keishing has raised serious concerns about the increasing number of illegal immigrants from Myanmar in the Kamjong district.
2. He has appealed to Chief Minister N Biren Singh to take immediate action against this rising influx.
3. Keishing stresses the urgent need to address the situation to protect local residents and manage the immigrant population effectively.
Imphal, May 15: Manipur MLA Leishiyo Keishing has raised serious concerns about the increasing number of illegal immigrants from Myanmar in the Kamjong district.
In light of this issue, he has appealed to Chief Minister N Biren Singh to take immediate action against the rising influx of these immigrants into the state.
Keishing has suggested two possible courses of action: either deporting the immigrants back to their native country or providing them with proper shelter under stringent supervision.
According to him, the influx of immigrants is threatening to outnumber the local residents, causing significant fear and unrest among the population.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Keishing, who represents the Phungyar Assembly Constituency, detailed the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar that has led to a continuous influx of illegal immigrants from the neighboring country since November 2023.
The letter, written on May 9, highlighted that the number of immigrants has now exceeded 5800, with the Kamjong district administration having captured the biometrics of 5173 individuals.
The MLA expressed concern that the number of immigrants residing in various shelter homes has now outnumbered the local residents.
Specifically, he noted that there are 1591 immigrants at Phaikoh, 661 at Shangkalok/Khenroram/H Thana, 356 at Skippe, 595 at Pilong, 414 at Aloyo and Choro, 512 at Wanglee, 971 at Namlee, and 357 at K Ashang Khullen Aze.
These shelter homes, established under the supervision of the State Government, provide basic necessities such as food, water, power supply, roofing, and other essential commodities.
Despite these provisions, Keishing reported that many unfortunate incidents have occurred, where local residents were beaten up over disputes related to daily wages and domestic issues.
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These situations have proven difficult for local law enforcement agencies to manage due to the limited number of police personnel stationed in the border area.
Keishing also pointed out that local customary laws are ineffective in controlling or binding the immigrants due to their foreign practices and beliefs.
There have been incidents of killings and kidnappings of local residents by the immigrants, but apprehending the culprits has been challenging as they often abscond and cross the border, beyond the reach of both customary and Indian law.
The MLA urged Chief Minister N Biren Singh to take necessary steps to deport the refugees to their native country or find a suitable place to shelter them under strict supervision.
He cautioned against granting Indian citizenship to these refugees, citing historical precedents from 1968, and emphasized the need to avoid repeating history that could lead to future unrest or crisis.
Additionally, Keishing called for the strengthening of armed police presence in the border area to enhance security and control.
MLA Leishiyo Keishing’s letter underscores the urgent need for the state government to address the challenges posed by the rising number of illegal immigrants in the Kamjong district, ensuring both the safety of local residents and the proper management of refugee populations.
