Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday launched the Facial Recognition System (FRS) for Inner Line Permit System and flagged off two camera mounted mobile FRS vehicles at his secretariat.
The Chief Minister said the newly launched system will help in effective checking of Inner Line Permit holders whose validity have expired at the ILP counters and in better management of the ILP System.
Singh said that considering the need to implement use of modern technology in the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the State, the government after seeking approval from the Union Home Ministry, engaged a reputed international firm for the installation of the FRS. With the untiring effort of the teams involved, the system has been implemented on a trial basis for some time now, he said, adding that even during the trial period, the system had managed to identify defaulters of the ILPS.
The Chief Minister said the FRS system has been installed at various places including at the Imphal Airport, Jiribam, and efforts are on to install it at other places including Khongsang Railway Station, Moreh, etc.
On top of this, the two mobile vehicles will be stationed at different locations in Imphal East and West districts to identify ILP defaulters, he said, adding that in the long run, FRS will facilitate a smoother entry and exit system for permit applicants/ holders from the State.
Singh also stressed on the issue of illegal immigrants who have entered the State without valid papers and said approximately 410 Myanmar nationals without proper valid documents have been arrested. The Chief Minister said the government has been giving serious focus and thrust to check illegal immigrants.
He continued the committee set up to check illegal immigrants has identified more than 2000 numbers of Myanmarese who have entered the State due to the conflict in their country and are being kept in shelter homes.
Highlighting the concern over the issue of illegal immigrants, N. Biren Singh said that Manipur shares around 398 km porous border with Myanmar. However, despite cancelling the Free Movement Regime, which allowed travel upto 16 km on both sides, we are still unable to effectively deal with the illegal immigrant issue.
The Chief Minister appealed to the people of Manipur especially those living in the border districts to cooperate with the government, in the larger interest of India’s and Manipur’s security, and help in identifying the illegal immigrants so that the government may put them into proper shelter homes.
ILP was implemented in the State with the approval of the Central government to give a layer of protection to the local population, the Chief Minister said further adding that the government will not compromise on its implementation.
Law and order is an internal matter and State subject and outsiders should refrain from meddling in such issues, the Chief Minister said.
The government cannot stop conducting ILP checking of individuals coming from outside the State, N. Biren Singh reacted strongly, highlighting that out of seven Myanmarese arrested recently from the airport during routine ILP checking, five of them had identity documents from Mizoram.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also appreciated all the CSOs, village chiefs, villagers, church leaders who have come out unitedly against poppy plantation and said that total eradication of illegal drugs and poppy plantation from the State is a commitment of the government and working to achieve this with a conviction.
On April 30, two persons were arrested along with 16 kg of opium and Kenbo bike from Singhat area in Churachandpur, the Chief Minister said further stating that a drug kingpin has also been arrested recently.
He said following reports of a recent seizure of illegal drugs at Assam from Manipur, a special team of the NAB had investigated the case resulting in the arrest of a kingpin identified as Shri Chandan Gupta at present residing at Maram Bazar, Senapati. During investigation, he revealed that he had sold 562 numbers of soap cases of illegal drugs in Dimapur and Guwahati. Further investigation of his bank accounts has shown transactions of about Rs. 1 crore.
Further from his revelation, two of his accomplices identified as Deepak Kumar Jaiswal from UP and presently staying at Maram Bazar and K Athini, Senapati district, were arrested.
