Arunachal students' body launches ‘Operation Clean Drive’ to oust illegal immigrants

In a bold move, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has launched a 30-day statewide campaign dubbed “Operation Clean Drive”, aimed at identifying and removing alleged illegal immigrants across Arunachal Pradesh.

Announcing the campaign at a press conference held at the Arunachal Press Club on Monday, AAPSU General Secretary Ritum Tali, along with other executive members, declared that the student body will conduct rallies and verification drives across all districts of the state. 

The focus, they said, is particularly on alleged Bangladeshi refugees and members of the Chakma-Hajong communities.

The campaign aligns with a recent directive issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which instructs all states and Union Territories to verify the credentials of individuals suspected to be illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar claiming Indian citizenship. AAPSU said its campaign would act within this 30-day MHA-sanctioned verification window.

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Speaking at the press meet, Ritum Tali revealed that a memorandum has been submitted to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, reiterating the union’s long-standing demand to address the presence of Chakma-Hajong and other suspected illegal immigrants in the state.

While AAPSU has maintained that the presence of such groups threatens the demographic and cultural identity of Arunachal Pradesh, the Chakma and Hajong communities have consistently asserted their legal right to reside in the state, citing decades of settlement and pending legal recognition.

The issue remains a sensitive and politically complex one, with constitutional, humanitarian, and legal dimensions. As AAPSU’s campaign gains momentum, the government will be under increased pressure to navigate the verification process carefully while maintaining public order and upholding the rule of law.