Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 29:
After 56 illegal intruders were handed over to police some time back, 10 illegal Bangladeshi foreigners were also pulled up by FREINDS Labour Union with the help of local clubs from Wahengbam Leikai yesterday.
The 10 Bangladeshis were handed over to police for verification.
Altogether 4 Tata Sumos were transporting the Bangladeshis.
However, three Tata Sumos managed to escape while one was pulled up by FREINDS, said its president Sapamcha Jadumani, while observing the Imphal-Jiribam road has become the main route for entry of illegal foreigners.
Earlier, illegal foreigners immigrating from different countries including Bangladesh came to Jiribam through Assam made their settlement in Jiribam.
Subsequently, outsiders have outnumbered indigenous people in Jiribam.
The outsiders constitute 60 percent of the total population of Jiribam while the indigenous people have been reduced to just 40 percent, he asserted.
Jadumani expressed apprehension that Manipur may soon become another Tripura where outsiders are the majority and the administrators as well if the ever increasing influx of migrants is not checked effectively.
Of the total population of 32 lakhs in Tripura, immigrants number about 25 lakhs, he mentioned.
If the indigenous people, particularly the politicians wish to administer the State themselves any longer, the influx of outsiders should be checked before it is too late.
At the same time, the Inner Line Permit System should be enforced in Manipur, Jadumani urged.
On Sep 21 too, FREINDS pulled up 56 illegal foreigners and handed them over to police along with the vehicle in which they were travelling.
The owners of the vehicles transporting illegal foreigners including the Tata Sumos which managed to escape yesterday should give in to FREINDS by Nov 3, Jadumani cautioned.