Manipur will pursue 1951 as the NRC base year, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam told the Assembly, while 14,992 of 24,475 detected illegal immigrants have been pushed back.
Imphal, Sept 7: Manipur will pursue 1951 as the base year for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam informed the State Assembly on Monday. He also stated that 24,475 illegal immigrants have been detected in the state so far, of whom 14,992 have been pushed back to Myanmar.
Responding to a question from Opposition MLA K Meghachandra Singh on the proposed NRC update and the original physical records of the 1951 NRC, Konthoujam stated that the state government would pursue the matter with the Government of India in accordance with resolutions adopted by the Assembly.
The Home Minister informed the House that efforts are underway to trace the original physical records of the 1951 NRC. He also clarified that the state government cannot implement the NRC on its own without approval from the Centre.
The Manipur State Population Commission has already been constituted in accordance with an Assembly resolution adopted on August 5, 2022.
Govindas Konthoujam cautioned that the NRC issue needs to be handled carefully. Referring to the exercise in Assam, he noted that the NRC there has not been placed in the public domain and the matter remains pending before the court.
He stated that Manipur had previously pursued the Centre for introduction of the NRC in the state. The government renewed its request following an Assembly resolution of March 1, 2024, which reaffirmed an earlier decision. On September 2, 2026, the Assembly unanimously passed another resolution reaffirming its previous resolutions on the issue.
The minister stated that the state government wants to proceed cautiously with the Centre to avoid the problems encountered in Assam.
24,475 illegal immigrants detected
Replying to a separate question from Opposition MLA Th Lokeshwar Singh on illegal immigration, Govindas Konthoujam informed the Assembly that 24,475 illegal immigrants have been detected across Manipur.
Of the total, 6,545 were detected in Kamjong district, 3,560 in Tengnoupal and 14,370 in Chandel.
The Home Minister stated that some of those detected have been pushed back, while others remain in the state. He explained that the process of pushing them back is being carried out through diplomatic channels.
According to the figures presented in the Assembly, 14,992 of the 24,475 detected immigrants have been pushed back.
In Kamjong, 5,378 of the 6,545 detected immigrants have been pushed back, while 1,167 remain in government shelters.
In Tengnoupal, only 14 of the 3,560 detected immigrants have been pushed back. The remaining 3,546 have been directed to remain under the supervision of the respective Deputy Commissioner after their biometric details were recorded, with instructions intended to prevent them from moving elsewhere.
In Chandel, 9,600 of the 14,370 detected immigrants have been pushed back to the Myanmar side. Of the remaining 4,770, biometric records have been collected from 1,308 people.
Government committees and verification drive
Govindas Konthoujam also outlined steps taken by the state government to identify illegal immigration and investigate the emergence of new villages.
A 12-member committee headed by former minister Awangbow Newmai was constituted on August 7, 2024, to detect and identify the influx of illegal immigrants and the unnatural growth of new villages. The government has subsequently issued an order concerning the Action Taken Report of the committee, the minister stated.
Earlier, on February 16, 2023, a Cabinet Sub-Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of former Tribal Affairs Minister Letpao Haokip. Former ministers Awangbow Newmai and Th Basanta Kumar Singh were members of the committee.
The State Home Department also constituted an Executive Committee on March 24, 2023, headed by Commissioner S Chourasia. The committee included IGP K Kabib, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, SDOs and SDPOs and was tasked with verifying illegal immigrants and assisting the Cabinet Sub-Committee.
The verification exercise had begun but could not continue after the outbreak of the crisis in Manipur on May 3, 2023, the Home Minister stated.
Illegal immigrants housed in temporary shelters
The government has kept those who remain in the state in temporary shelters across the three border districts.
In Kamjong, the 1,167 people are being sheltered at Namli, Wanglee, Kaka, Zoro, Iko, Skipi, Huimin Thana and Phaikoh.
In Tengnoupal, 3,546 people are staying in areas around Sadang village along the Indo-Myanmar border.
In Chandel, the 4,770 people are being sheltered at Molcham, Gamphajol, Khangtung, L Nampao, Yaingol, Bongjang, Kheljang, New Lajang and nearby villages.
The Home Minister further informed the Assembly that the respective Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to segregate the illegal immigrants from local Indian communities.
