Itanagar/Shillong, Jan 5 (PTI) Northeastern states arekeeping a strict vigil to check a possible influx of illegalmigrants into their territories following the publication ofthe first draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) inAssam, administration and police officials have said.
The NRC, first prepared in 1951, is being updated inAssam under the supervision of the Supreme Court to weed outillegal migrants. The first draft of the updated version waspublished on December 31.
Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur havetaken measures to prevent illegal migrants from entering theirterritories.
In Arunachal, superintendents of police of all borderdistricts have been directed to liaise with their Assamcounterparts regarding the matter, according to an officialrelease.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu had sought information fromthe state director general of police on the situation in theborder areas in the wake of the publication of the NRC firstdraft.
He also directed the DGP to maintain a strict vigil atborder outposts to check the possible influx of illegalimmigrants, the release read.
The Meghalaya Police tightened surveillance along theborder with Assam following publication of the NRC firstdraft, state Director General of Police SB Singh said today.
"We have taken precautions to check any infiltration ofanti-national elements right from December last week," DGP SBSingh told PTI.
The home department had on December 22 directed the statepolice to step up vigil and conduct checks in the borderareas, he said.
Special police teams have been deployed at the JiribamBabupara Bazar in Manipur and along the Barak river borderingMizoram, the Manipur Police said in a statement.
The Barak originates in Manipur, flows through Mizoramand Assam and enters Bangladesh, where it forks into theSurma and Kushiyara rivers.
Police teams have been deployed at Mao Gate in Senapatidistrict bordering Nagaland and the Tamei-Haflong road inTamenglong district bordering Assam to check the entry ofmigrants into the state, the release read.
Nagaland Home Commissioner Abhishek Singh was confidentof preventing possible spillover of illegal migrants into thestate.
With the Inner Line Permit system in the state and policepersonnel manning check gates, illegal migrants cannot enterNagaland, he said.
State Home Minister Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu, however, saidthe matter had not yet been throughly discussed in hisdepartment. PTI UPL JOP COR NBS NN MMGVS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.