Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has raised alarm over the growing threat of illegal immigration in the state, stating it is not merely an administrative or political concern but a direct challenge to the identity, stability, and future of Manipur’s indigenous communities.

In a detailed letter addressed to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Singh revealed that 5,457 illegal immigrants have been identified in the state, citing the impact of unregulated influx on public services, forest encroachment, and rising identity-based unrest.

Biren Singh outlined that under his tenure as chief minister, the BJP-led state government initiated comprehensive verification drives since 2017 to identify undocumented immigrants, dismantle illegal settlements, and deport those without valid documentation. He credited the efforts of a cabinet sub-committee led by former minister Letpao Haokip, alongside Awangbou Newmai and Th Basantakumar — representing Kuki, Naga, and Meitei communities respectively — for playing a crucial role in identifying illegal immigrants.

Special drives at Singhat and Holenphai in Churachandpur district uncovered hidden settlements and undocumented populations, Biren Singh said. He also referenced official letters, including one from the Assam Rifles confirming the entry of 718 Myanmarese nationals into Manipur on July 23, 2023, and another from the Churachandpur Superintendent of Police highlighting the involvement of 11 Myanmarese nationals in the ongoing violence.

The former CM emphasized the role of ethnic and geographic proximity between Myanmar’s Chin-Kuki population and communities already settled in Manipur, which, combined with a porous 398-km border, has facilitated unchecked cross-border migration—particularly during periods of political instability in Myanmar.

He warned that illegal immigration has contributed to the rapid rise of settlements in tribal and forest areas, encroachment on reserved forest lands, and increased tensions between communities. Furthermore, Singh claimed that many of these immigrants are well-armed and funded by cross-border poppy and drug cartels, placing additional strain on essential public services like education, housing, and healthcare.

The former CM disclosed that from 2017 to 2023, the state government destroyed over 15,715 acres of poppy plantations, inflicting an estimated ₹12,480 crore loss to illegal cultivators. During the BJP’s tenure from 2017 to 2025, seizures of illegal drugs have dealt a blow of ₹9,300 crore to drug syndicates operating in the region.

Biren Singh asserted that this intensified crackdown has disrupted the operations of Myanmar-based armed groups, who he said are now retaliating through riots and unrest aimed at destabilizing the region and resisting the state’s anti-narcotics campaign.

“Manipur stands at the frontline of India’s battle against illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and arms proliferation,” Singh wrote, adding that the demographic fabric, socio-political equilibrium, and environmental stability of the state are now under serious threat.

Backing the Union Home Ministry’s recent directive to identify illegal immigrants within 30 days, Singh reiterated that the issue transcends political debate. “It concerns the very existence of the indigenous people of Manipur,” he declared, “and challenges the identity, stability, and future of the state.”