To regulate the movement of non-locals and detect undocumented immigrants, the Manipur Police have launched a special verification drive across the Senapati district, with over 2,400 individuals screened so far.
According to an official statement issued, the ongoing operation – monitored closely by the Senapati District Police Task Force – has identified 170 individuals without valid Inner Line Permits (ILPs) and another 134 carrying expired ILP documents.
These individuals were escorted to the Mao Gate ILP counter to obtain fresh documentation before being allowed to continue their journey.
The police have clarified that while no illegal immigrants have been apprehended so far, the drive is primarily a pre-emptive measure to enforce ILP norms and ensure that only individuals with valid permits are allowed access into the state.
The checks at all inter-state and inter-district border entry points have been intensified, and authorities say the exercise will be scaled up further in the coming days.
The Inner Line Permit system, a colonial-era regulation reintroduced and expanded in recent years, is mandatory for non-residents seeking entry into Manipur. The system is designed to safeguard the rights and identity of indigenous communities by regulating the influx of outsiders, particularly in the wake of rising demographic concerns in the northeastern region.
The renewed enforcement comes at a time when Manipur remains sensitive to demographic changes due to its complex ethnic composition and ongoing unrest in parts of the state.
The ILP regime has often been cited by civil society groups and local organisations as a vital tool for protecting land, culture, and employment opportunities of the native population.