Ukhrul, October 26: The inflow of illegal immigrants has been a sensitive issue for Mizoram since 2020 with over 460 foreign nationals, the majority of them from neighbouring Myanmar arrested over five years for their involvement in crimes ranging from narcotics smuggling to arms trafficking and visa violations, as per reports.
On 23rd October, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma reaffirmed his government’s commitment to evict illegal immigrants and non-tribal individuals residing in the state without valid permits.
While addressing the general conference of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) at Sakawrdai in Aizawl district near the Manipur border, the Chief Minister said that the issue had been discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
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“With permission from our governor, I informed our Prime Minister and Union Home Minister about our intention to carry out eviction drives against non-tribal, who are living in the state without a valid ILP. We have been implementing the exercise in some localities of Aizawl,” Lalduhoma said.
The Chief Minister further explained that an Inner Line Permit (ILP), which restricts illegal entry into Mizoram, was implemented in the state under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) of 1873, about 152 years ago, to protect the tribal people and the tribal area.
Lalduhoma noted that the government has launched an online ILP system, which is being reinforced to prevent unauthorized entry. He called for support from the YMA, local councils, and village authorities in identifying and evicting illegal settlers.
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Following the Chief Minister’s remarks, the Mizo Students’ Union (MSU) an apex student body issued a statement calling for stricter measures against unauthorised settlements urging the state government to immediately abolish 11 unauthorised villages in the State which were set up by illegal immigrants.
MSU president B. Lalkhawngaihazuala stated that according to information obtained under the Right to Information act, there are seven unauthorised villages in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district and one each in Mamit, Champhai, Khawzawl and Serchhip districts.
The MSU firmly objects to the government’s initiative of providing welfare and developmental schemes such as power, water, health and education to such villages.
“We are strongly against the establishment of such unauthorised villages by illegal immigrants. We demand the Government take sincere steps to ensure that such villages are abolished before the end of the current year,” stated Lalkhawngaihazuala in a news conference in Mizoram.
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The MSU president also urged the villagers to leave within this year warning that stern action would follow if the government fails to abolish the villages or if residents do not vacate within the stipulated time.