Imphal: The government of Manipur has begun a biometric registration drive for alleged "illegal migrants" from Myanmar, a move drawing comparisons to the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
On June 22, the Central government instructed Manipur and Mizoram to initiate this exercise to record biometric details of suspected illegal immigrants from Myanmar, citing national security concerns.
The India-Myanmar border in the northeast spans over 1,600 km, with 390 km falling within Manipur and 500 km in Mizoram. Both states have been grappling with cross-border refugee influx issues.
The border between India and Myanmar is governed by the Free Movement Regime (FMR), permitting tribes residing along the border to travel up to 16 km on either side without visa restrictions. Ethnically connected tribes live on both sides of the border, sharing strong cultural ties.
However, since the Myanmar coup in 2021, the border has become vulnerable to infiltration, leading to an influx of refugees, particularly in Mizoram. Approximately 35,000 Chin people from Myanmar's Chin state have sought refuge in Mizoram following the military coup in February 2021.
In Manipur, the exact number of immigrants from Myanmar remains unclear. Civil society groups from the Meitei community allege that Kukis from Myanmar are settling in Kuki-dominated regions of the state.
Amid these concerns, Meitei groups have been calling for an NRC-like exercise to identify and document immigrants. To address the issue, the state government formed a cabinet sub-committee to conduct a survey distinguishing between indigenous inhabitants and illegal settlers. In their initial report on April 24, the committee identified 2,187 illegal immigrants residing in 41 different locations.
However, Kuki-Zomi groups have raised objections, claiming that genuine Indian tribals are facing harassment during the process.
Manipur's Chief Minister Biren Singh has attributed ethnic violence in the region since May to militants and Myanmarese people, an assertion vehemently opposed by the tribals.
Civil society groups are drawing parallels between the biometric registration drive and the contentious NRC exercise carried out in Assam in 2019.