IMPHAL, May 28: Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Tuesday has raised serious concerns about the growing threat of illegal immigration in the state, warning that it poses not just an administrative or political issue but a direct challenge to the identity, stability, and future of Manipur’s indigenous communities.
In a comprehensive letter addressed to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Singh revealed that 5,457 illegal immigrants have been identified in Manipur. He cited the unregulated influx as a cause of pressure on public services, forest encroachment, and growing identity-based unrest.
Singh noted that under his leadership, the BJP-led state government launched extensive verification drives starting in 2017 to identify undocumented immigrants, dismantle unauthorized settlements, and deport individuals without valid documentation. A cabinet sub-committee—led by former minister Letpao Haokip, and including Awangbou Newmai and Th. Basantakumar—played a crucial role in this effort, representing the Kuki, Naga, and Meitei communities, respectively.
Special operations in areas like Singhat and Holenphai in Churachandpur district exposed illegal settlements and undocumented populations. Singh referenced official documents, including a communication from the Assam Rifles that confirmed the entry of 718 Myanmarese nationals into Manipur on July 23, 2023. Another letter from the Churachandpur Superintendent of Police reported the involvement of 11 Myanmarese nationals in ongoing violence.
He highlighted the ethnic and geographical proximity between Myanmar’s Chin-Kuki population and groups already settled in Manipur, stating that this—along with the porous 398-km Indo-Myanmar border—has allowed unchecked migration, particularly during times of political turmoil in Myanmar.
Singh warned that the influx has fueled the rapid expansion of settlements in tribal and forest regions, encroachment on protected lands, and increased communal tensions. He further alleged that many illegal immigrants are armed and funded by trans-border drug and poppy cartels, creating further strain on essential public services like education, housing, and healthcare.
Between 2017 and 2023, Singh stated, the state government eradicated over 15,715 acres of poppy plantations—causing an estimated loss of ₹12,480 crore to illegal cultivators. From 2017 to 2025, the BJP-led government also seized narcotics worth approximately ₹9,300 crore, disrupting drug syndicates operating across the region.
According to Singh, these enforcement efforts have unsettled armed groups from Myanmar, who are now retaliating by instigating violence and social unrest in an attempt to derail Manipur’s anti-narcotics drive.
“Manipur stands at the frontline of India’s battle against illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and arms proliferation,” Singh wrote. He emphasized that the demographic balance, socio-political harmony, and ecological stability of the state are now at risk.
Supporting the Union Home Ministry’s recent directive to identify illegal immigrants within 30 days, Singh reiterated that the matter goes beyond political debate. “It concerns the very existence of the indigenous people of Manipur,” he wrote, adding that it ultimately threatens the identity, stability, and future of the state.
