The student bodies also alarmed the state authorities on the unusual population increase in hill areas, bourgeoning of hamlets, cultivation of poppy, and unabated encroachment on reserved forest areas.
TFM Desk
A forum comprising of six student organisations of Manipur — All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF), Democratic Students’ Alliance Of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA), Students’ Union Of Kangleipak (SUK), Apunba Ireipak-ki Maheiroi Singpang Lup (AIMS) has demanded speedy identification of illegal settlers and immigrants in the state and called on the ruling dispensation to punish them as per existing law.
READ: lup 6 press release 12th March
In a press statement, the forum for six student bodies also alarmed the state authorities on the unusual population increase in hill areas, bourgeoning of hamlets, cultivation of poppy, and unabated encroachment on reserved forest areas. These student bodies argued that the influx of internal and external migrants had impacted on the identity, culture, economy, administration, and ecology of Manipur.
Urging the authorities to “detect, delete and deport” illegal immigrants, particularly from Myanmar, Nepal, and Bangladesh, the forum appealed to the state government to seek the help from the government of India on implementing National Register of Citizenship (NRC) in Manipur. It also called for the instituting a population commission so as to implement NRC and an effort to check outsiders.
The student organisations also urged the government to provide additional manpower to protect the environment and the reserved forest areas from being ravaged by illegal settlers and appealed to all not to view the issues being confronted from a tainted communal or ethnic perspective.