N Biren Singh Urges Manipur Govt to Share Updated Biometric Data of Illegal Immigrants

Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday urged the state Home Department to share updated information on the biometric enrolment of illegal immigrants, particularly those from Myanmar, saying transparency was essential to strengthen public confidence and safeguard national security.

Singh's remarks came a day after reports that the Mizoram government had said the biometric enrolment of Myanmar refugees taking shelter in the state was in its final phase.In a post on X, the former chief minister said the issue was not about politics but concerned national security, border protection and the future of the people of Manipur.

He cited Mizoram's measures to monitor the influx of illegal immigrants and protect the state's interests, saying they demonstrated the importance of vigilance in dealing with the issue.

"Similarly, it would be in the public interest for the Manipur Home Department to regularly share updated information on biometric data collected, including the number of individuals identified and verified," Singh said.

He added that making such information public would strengthen public confidence and reaffirm the government's commitment to protecting the state's security and the interests of its indigenous communities.

Singh's statement comes amid continuing concerns over the influx of people from Myanmar into Manipur, which shares a porous international border with the neighbouring country.

The issue has remained a matter of concern for the state, particularly following the political and security crisis in Myanmar that triggered an influx of people into India's northeastern states.

In August, Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas informed the state Assembly that 24,475 illegal immigrants from Myanmar had been detected in Manipur so far.

However, Singh has now called for regular updates on the biometric exercise, including the number of individuals enrolled, identified and verified, to ensure greater accountability and transparency in the process.