Meitei body urges Centre to implement NRC in Manipur to identify illegal immigrants

The COCOMI also urged the government to complete fencing along the India-Myanmar border at the earliest to stop illegal immigration and trafficking of arms and drugs.

“The Centre has not taken any action despite fresh bombings at Kadangband earlier this month. This indicates the people of the state are not being considered as citizens of the country,” said Somendro Thokchom, the Coordinator of the organisation.

Suspected militants had launched a bomb attack in the Kadangband area of Manipur’s Imphal West district on January 14.

“This conflict will end only when the Centre takes definite action and initiates a military crackdown against Kuki militants,” Thokchom told reporters.

The conglomerate of several Imphal valley-based civil society organisations also demanded that the government take action against Kuki Zo militants to end the ongoing conflict in the state that left over 250 people dead and thousands homeless.

“NRC needs to be implanted to identify illegal immigrants. Refugee detention camps for Myanmarese people must not be confined to Manipur only. The state has limited land resources. The camps should also be set up in other states,” Thokchom said.

The Centre must also complete border fencing along the Myanmar border at the earliest to prevent illegal immigration as well as the inflow of arms and drugs from the neighbouring country, he said.

Thokchom said, “Illegal immigration, arms and drugs smuggling from Myanmar into Manipur remains core issues of the conflict in the state.”

“The situation has hardly improved in the state. There are no signs of any action being taken. Among the various cases, the killing of three women and three children by Kuki and Hmar militants in Jiribam district in November last year and the disappearance of a man from an army camp at Leimakhong in Kangpokpi district remains unaddressed,” he added.

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