Imphal:
Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has alleged that “powerful groups” are attempting to divert public attention away from what he called the State’s central challenge — the presence of illegal immigrants. Singh said such forces are working deliberately to shift discourse to secondary issues, while the infiltration problem continues to threaten social stability.
Speaking to reporters, Singh claimed that anti-national and anti-State elements “must not be allowed” to distract the government and people from the real challenge of illegal foreign nationals entering Manipur through porous international borders. He asserted that systematic infiltration has altered security dynamics in the region and demanded stronger vigilance.
The former Chief Minister recalled that when his government initially began identifying and documenting illegal immigrants, his administration faced intense criticism from neighbouring States. However, he said that now the gravity of the issue has been recognised more widely.
According to Singh, multiple northeastern States — including Nagaland and Mizoram — have recently begun taking similar steps to detain and verify illegal foreign nationals. He argued that this shift reinforces his long-standing observation that unchecked migration poses demographic, social and law-and-order risks.
Singh urged both the State and the Union government to maintain long-term focus on identifying, verifying and deporting illegal immigrants to their countries of origin. He also appealed to civil society not to fall prey to misinformation campaigns allegedly aimed at diluting the issue.
Manipur shares a sensitive international border region connected to Myanmar, making it vulnerable to cross-border movement, trafficking routes and refugee inflows caused by conflict and instability.
Singh reiterated that national security agencies and the Manipur Police should prioritise border surveillance, investigation and demographic assessment to prevent further illegal entry into the State.
