IMPHAL, Sept 1 � Manipur police detected six illegal immigrants yesterday, a day after the detection and detention of 43 foreign nationals who illegally entered the State.
The police parties in its verification drive conducted in and around Nagamapal area here rounded up many non-locals who do not have proper identity cards, etc for verification. Later, the police team found six foreign nationals of Bangladesh origin.
They have been sent to police custody as per Foreigners Act 1946 as done in yesterday�s detection drive.
Though he did not give any clear reason behind the ongoing drive, State Home Minister Gaikhangam informed the local media that the operations will continue in the State.
Meanwhile, lauding the steps being taken by the State police, leaders of civil society organisations in the State have demanded immediate deportation of the detained foreign nationals who illegally entered the State.
�We want the government to deport the illegal migrants to their respective countries as per rule of the law besides controlling fresh entry of migrants to the State,� said co-convenor Joy Chingakham of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit (ILP) System, a committee which has been demanding reintroduction of ILP to control the entry of illegal migrants to the State.
�We, however, appreciate the move of the government to check illegal migrants,� the co-convenor added. �Otherwise, the indigenous population in the State will become a minority.�
According to a report compiled by United Committee Manipur �Influx of Migrants into Manipur�, the number of migrants (7,04,488) outnumbered the State�s indigenous tribal population (6,70,782) while the majority indigenous Meetei was just 9,18,626 (2001 census).
On the first day of the search operations in three valley districts on Thursdsay, 43 illegal foreign nationals including 24 persons of Bangaladesh origin and 19 from Myanmar were detected from Hatta and Lilong areas. They were presently detained under the Foreigners� Act 1946.
