Manipur CM holds assembly with BRO officers to increase border fencing

On Sunday (24 September), Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh held a gathering with the senior officers of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) relating to plans to increase the India-Myanmar border fencing by 70 kilometres. The purpose of extending the border fencing is to curb the inflow of unlawful immigrants in Manipur from the neighbouring nation Myanmar.

The State Chief Secretary and BRO officers, the state police, and the Home Department had been current on the assembly. 

Taking to X, the Manipur CM wrote, “Held a meeting with the officials of BRO and deliberated the plan to begin construction of an additional 70 km of border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border. I was joined by Chief Secretary, DGP & officials from the Home Department.” 

Held a gathering with the officers of BRO and deliberated the plan to start development of a further 70 km of border fencing alongside the Indo-Myanmar border. I used to be joined by Chief Secretary, DGP & officers from the Home Department.

In view of the rise in unlawful immigration… pic.twitter.com/cZWO00k3as

— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) September 24, 2023

Calling it an pressing necessity, the Manipur CM added, “In view of the rise in illegal immigration and drugs smuggling from the neighbouring country, safeguarding our porous borders has become an urgent necessity.”

Notably, the assembly relating to the extension of border fencing comes a day after the Manipur CM urged the Centre to ‘permanently close’ the Free Movement Regime (FMR). This FMR coverage permits people from either side of the border to journey as much as 16 kilometres inside the neighbouring nation with none paperwork or visas. 

The purpose of the FMR coverage was to facilitate commerce and commerce whereas additionally allowing unrestricted motion for individuals from ethnically associated communities in each nations. However, it has been criticised for enabling cross-border unlawful actions and the inflow of unlawful immigration together with the smuggling of medicine and arms from Myanmar.

Manipur has a 400-km lengthy worldwide border with Myanmar and fewer than 10% of it’s fenced. The remaining porous border is susceptible to cross-border unlawful actions. 

The difficult topography of the area, amongst different elements, makes it tough to fence all the border. Nevertheless, consultants preserve that sure areas, the place most unlawful actions happen, might be extra simply secured with fencing.

Earlier in July, the Manipur authorities began the method to gather biometrics of unlawful immigrants from Myanmar. The ministry stated that the marketing campaign will proceed in all districts till biometric information of all unlawful Myanmar immigrants within the State are efficiently captured. The marketing campaign is focused for completion by September 2023. 

It is notable that the union house ministry has directed the states of Manipur and Mizoram to finish the method of capturing biometric information of unlawful migrants by September this yr.

Under the marketing campaign, the biometric information of anybody who enters India from Myanmar can be collected. This will assist the federal government determine unlawful immigrants simply. Reportedly they are going to be included in a “negative biometric list” so they can’t turn into residents of India later.

Additionally, the authorities accomplished the border fencing alongside 10 km of the Manipur-Mizoram border by July, this yr.

It is notable that unlawful immigration from Myanmar is a serious trigger behind the latest violence in Manipur. The Meiteis alleged that numerous Kukis from Myanmar entered the state with the assistance of native Kukis, and later settled in forest lands. 

It can also be discovered that such immigrants perform large-scale poppy cultivation on forest land. Moreover, the Manipur authorities in July had knowledgeable that a minimum of 718 Myanmar nationals illegally entered the state in per week’s time alone.