Manipur’s ‘immigrant hunt’ violates rights of the indigenous: Here’s how

On February 15, 2023, the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur District, Manipur, ordered the launch of a verification drive to identify ‘illegal immigrants’ in several villages under the Churachandpur and Mualnuam sub-divisions in south Manipur.

The verification drives are meant to be held from February 27 to March 17, 2023. The DC’s office further stated that respective village chiefs/village authorities were informed to ensure the attendance of all residents to procure their biometrics.

This order comes in light of the recent heightened and passionate ‘immigrant hunts’ made by Manipur since the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021.