Manipur Police launches special task forces to combat illegal immigration

Guwahati: Manipur police have formed Special Task Forces (STFs) in all District Police to detect, identify, and take appropriate legal action against illegal immigrants residing in the State.

Manipur police stated in X, “Manipur Police has taken up the issue of illegal immigrants including Bangladeshi / Rohingyas (Myanmar nationals)/ Pakistani nationals with utmost seriousness in view of its growing importance”.

It continued, “Revised instructions outlining the procedure for detection, restriction of movement, and deportation of such individuals have been issued by the Police Headquarters and circulated to all District Superintendents of Police across the State.In addition, a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for verification and detection of illegal immigrants, including Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals, has been provided to ensure uniform and coordinated action at the district level.”


The police stated, “To strengthen enforcement, Special Task Forces (STFs) have been constituted in all District Police to detect, identify, and take appropriate legal action against illegal immigrants residing in the State. Senior officers are conducting regular and strict reviews of the progress and effectiveness of the actions being taken in this regard.”

On July 23, in view of apprehension of influx of illegal migrants into the Manipur especially due to the turmoil situation in neighbouring countries, Manipur home department asked Deputy Commissioners and Superintendent of Police to keep robust mechanism to prevent anyone from crossing into State Boundaries illegally and must ensure to maintain utmost vigil at international, inter-State and inter-district boundaries to prevent any such movement.

Commissioner- cum secretary (Home) N Ashok Kumar stated in an advisory any such movement, if detected, should be immediately reported and biographic and biometric details of such persons be captured mandatorily. “Such illegal migrants shall have to be kept in put at secured designated locations for providing shelter and humanitarian support without allowing them to get mixed up or naturalised with local Populace”.

The advisory stated, “All such illegal migrants shall be deported after following due procedures. All Deputy Commissioners shall constitute District level Committee with members from District Police to conduct checking at all suspected locations and shall conduct regular review of the same. Deputy Commissioners shall regularly monitor the Exit-Entry Points under the Border Pass System. Tracing of defaulters/ overstayed cases shall be done through District Police.”

It added that the district level Task Force for checking of illegal migrants shall have to be made operational at the earliest. The task force must consist of Additional Superintendent of Police of the District – leader, Officer representing office of DC not below the rank of SDC, representative of Assam Rifles/ BSF/CRPF as desired by team leader and biometric staff.

After a military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, refugees around 35,000. Around 5,000 Myanmar refugees also took shelter in Manipur.

The Manipur government has almost collected the biometric and demographic data of the refugees staying in the state.