AIZAWL, Aug 22 - Over 200 suspected illegal immigrants, whose names were left out in the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) published in Assam, have been detected by volunteers of the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or the Mizo Students� Federation, at border check points in the past two days, according to the MZP.
MZP president L Ramdinliana Renthlei said that the student body has been launching drives against illegal migrants since August 17 and checking people entering Mizoram from neighbouring States at the border check points in Bairabi, Saiphai and Vairengte.
At least 233 non-locals, suspected to be illegal immigrants, were detected and prevented from entering Mizoram during mass checking drives on Tuesday and Wednesday at Bairabi, Saiphai and Vairengte, Renthlei added. According to him, 137 suspected illegal immigrants were apprehended at Vairengte during the period, 71 at Saiphai and 25 at Bairabi.
The student body set up infiltration check gates at the three border villages on Monday.
Renthlei said that all the apprehended non-locals were suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals, whose names are missing in the draft NRC. He also said that the suspected Bangladeshis were apprehended when MZP volunteers intercepted and checked vehicles coming from Assam. They were asked to go back to Assam, he said.
Earlier, the student body had apprehended five suspected illegal immigrants in Aizawl and 16 others in Vairengte. With these cases, the MZP has so far detected 254 suspected illegal immigrants whose names were not included in the draft NRC list of Assam since last Friday.
Meanwhile, the Mizoram Government has tightened security measures along the Mizoram-Assam border and deployed more police personnel there. The State Government has also asked the MZP to stop checking people entering the State from neighbouring States at border check points.
Renthlei said that the student body would continue to check non-locals entering the State from outside despite the Government�s appeal to stop the drive.
�The student body has not thought of a halt to checking people at border check points unless there is assurance from the State Government that it would take massive efforts to curb influx of unknown outsiders from neighbouring States,� he said.
A statement issued by the MZP on Wednesday said that a sizeable number of non-locals, who failed to get their names in the draft NRC, have already entered Mizoram and are currently camping in the State. The student body further said that it would take massive efforts to detect those �foreigners� who have already entered the State.
The MZP blamed the State Government for �remaining a mute spectator and pretending to be in slumber to check influx of illegal migrants and infiltrators from neighbouring Assam�.
