Manipur MLA proposes 'shoot at sight' for Myanmar's illegal immigrants

Lourembam Rameshwar Meetei, MLA of Keirao Assembly Constituency in Manipur, has proposed a 'shoot at sight' policy against illegal immigrants from Myanmar. He alleges that these immigrants exploit loopholes in the system to obtain voter cards and establish themselves in Manipur by marrying locals. He stressed on the need for effective implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and stricter surveillance measures to curb this issue.

He also urged the government and indigenous communities to play an active role in preventing illegal immigration and land encroachment. The MLA further highlighted the potential national security threat posed by the influx of undocumented immigrants and called for the implementation of a stringent law to address the issue.

In the ongoing Manipur Assembly session, the Keiro MLA expressed concerns about illegal immigrants in his constituency. He claimed that people from Mizoram, using Aadhar cards, have migrated to Manipur and registered on the voter list. He alleged that these immigrants, in turn, brought in more illegal immigrants from Burma. 

The MLA stressed the need for effective implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to curb such issues. He also highlighted the diverse communities residing in his constituency and alleged that some immigrants have managed to obtain Aadhar cards and voter list registration through marriage to local residents. 

He urged the government to take strict action against illegal immigration, suggesting measures such as biometric surveillance and the enactment of specific policies. The MLA also called on indigenous communities and fellow MLAs to play an active role in preventing illegal immigration and land encroachment.

The MLA recently expressed concerns over the growing number of illegal immigrants in the valley. He alleged that these immigrants were erecting bunkers in the peripheral areas, taking advantage of the Suspension of Operation. He emphasized the need for valley MLAs to remain vigilant about the entry of immigrants and proactively identify them. 

The MLA also shared an incident from Imphal West, where a local woman married a Kuki militant and amassed large tracts of paddy land. He warned that indigenous communities are being increasingly displaced by these immigrants. He urged the Naga community to play a significant role in preventing illegal immigration and land encroachment. 
The MLA further demanded the government to implement strict measures against illegal immigrants, including a 'shoot at sight' policy. He stressed the need for practical steps to curtail illegal immigration, beyond merely signing and sending resolutions for implementation. 

He recalled the previous government's action against the Meitei community, where around 3600 were killed, including 1500 in fake encounters. He posited that a 'shoot at sight' policy could significantly address the illegal immigration issue.
The MLA highlights the potential threat posed by illegal immigration to national security. He suggests that the influx of undocumented immigrants could strain resources and disrupt the demographic balance of the state.

Rameshwar Meetei draws a parallel to the efforts undertaken by the state government and security forces to control insurgency in Manipur, which involved encounters in extreme situations.

The MLA advocates for the implementation of a stringent law to address the issue of illegal immigration. He even proposes a controversial measure – granting security forces the authority to use "shoot at sight" tactics against illegal immigrants.

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