Manipur BJP ally calls for surgical strike to 'solve problem' of illegal migrants

Effective action like "surgical strike" should be done to solve the problem of "illegal immigrants and militants" in Manipur for once and all, National People’s Party (NPP) leader M Rameshwar Singh said. The NPP is an ally of the BJP in Manipur, which has been witnessing ethnic violence for the past three months that has claimed more than 150 lives.

"It is clear from the statements made by the Home Minister that some illegal Kuki militants, immigrants are coming from across the border. I have always been saying that there is external aggression involved in this. National security is also compromised," the NPP leader said.

"It is important for us to save not only Manipur but also the entire nation. Some effective action like surgical strike should be done to solve the problem for once and all," M Rameshwar Singh said.

"I had requested the Union Minister that some agencies are trying to build a narrative saying that all Kuki militants are in camps now and the weapons are all with them. The doubt is coming to the people of Manipur when this kind of narrative is built. From where is the fire coming? Who is firing from the other side?" he said.

Last month, the Manipur government started capturing biometric data of illegal immigrants from Myanmar living in the state. The Manipur government had expressed concern about reports of 700 illegal immigrants entering the state within a few days in July.

According to the Home Department's statement, 718 illegal immigrants, including 301 children, crossed into Manipur's Chandel district on July 22 and 23, during the period when the violence in Manipur was raging.

Manipur has been caught in 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.