Manipur has said narco-terrorists and illegal Myanmar immigrants are behind the ethnic clashes
The Manipur government has started capturing biometric data of illegal immigrants from Myanmar living in the ethnic violence-hit state, the state government said in a statement today.
The ethnic clashes in Manipur have been linked to alleged involvement of illegal immigrants from Myanmar, apart from narcoterrorism.
The Manipur Home Department in a statement today said the campaign for capturing the biometric data of all illegal immigrants from Myanmar living in the state will be completed by September-end.
The Home Ministry has sent a team from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to train state government officials on capturing biometric data of illegal Myanmar immigrants, Joint Secretary (Home) Peter Salam said in the statement.
"The campaign will continue in all districts until biometric data of all illegal Myanmar immigrants in the state are successfully captured. The same is targeted for completion by September 2023," the statement said.
Manipur has been caught in an ethnic strife since May 3, between the hill-majority Kuki tribe and the valley-majority Meiteis.
Earlier, the centre had asked the Manipur and Mizoram governments to carry out the biometric exercise and complete it by September.
At least seven Myanmar nationals have received treatment for bullet and explosive injuries at Manipur's Churachandpur district, where the Kukis are settled in large numbers.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said Myanmar immigrants are responsible for deforestation, poppy cultivation and drug menace.