Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has drawn attention to a startling report by Assam Rifles Director General Lt. Gen. Vikas Lakhera, revealing that nearly 42,000 outsiders have entered Manipur through the Indo-Myanmar border since December 2024. Singh took to social media to express his gratitude to Lt. Gen. Lakhera for confirming that authorities are collecting biometric data from individuals entering illegally. “The very need for such a measure underlines an undeniable truth—that the influx of outsiders into our region is real and ongoing,” Singh noted, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
The former CM also reassured citizens that these entrants are being closely monitored, housed only at secure locations, and kept under strict surveillance. “The message is clear. The Northeast is not blind to what is happening, nor is it leaving anything to chance,” Singh asserted, highlighting the proactive approach of security forces. This disclosure comes amid growing concerns in Manipur over cross-border infiltration. Political leaders, civil society organizations, and local communities have repeatedly called for enhanced security measures along the 398-kilometre-long Indo-Myanmar border to prevent illegal entry and safeguard regional stability.
The Assam Rifles, which plays a key role in border management and intelligence gathering in the Northeast, has intensified patrolling and surveillance, using biometric tracking and secure accommodations to ensure law and order while monitoring the movements of unauthorized entrants.
