Controversial Meitei MLA Rakes up Controversial Statement for Killing Illegal Immigrants

The controversial MLA from Keirao Assembly Constituency and one of the patron members of the militia group-Arambai Tenggol, Lourembam Rameshwar Meetei, has proposed a controversial statement of “shoot at sight” policy against illegal immigrants from Myanmar.

Even after the communally filled Meitei dominated assembly reaffirmed a resolution for effective implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and stricter surveillance measures to curb the issue, the MLA proposed an inhumane and controversial measure – granting security forces the authority to use “shoot at sight” tactic against illegal immigrants.

As per convention and several international laws, any illegal immigrants might be identified and deported back to their Country of Origin without inflicting any harm to the person(s). It is unfortunate that the Meitei MLA raked up such a controversial proposal without understanding the humanitarian issues that might ensue. Such a controversial statement is unbecoming of a person elected as a representative of the people. No wonder, the majority of the Meitei  community from top of their leaders including L. Rameshwar Meetei to the lowest level, humanity is absent in their thoughts and minds, especially when their malafide intention  is  against  the  Chin-Kuki  communities.

Keirao MLA, Rameshwar is known for his communal mindset, filled with hatred towards the Chin-Kuki communities. In the wake of the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing pogrom, he along with the communal  Chief  Minister  N.  Biren  Singh  and the Meiteis’ titular king and the lone Rajya Sabha member Leisemba Sanajaoba nurtured the Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun and the valley-based militant groups to carry out the allegedly pre-planned ethnic cleansing act against the Kuki community.

All of him and his fellow companions’ allegations against the Kukis are hallowed and lacked substances, without facts and figures. The fact of the matter is that as per the data of the Government of Manipur, the number of illegal immigrants identified are just a meagre number of about 2000 individuals. These illegal immigrants are forced to flee their home towards India due to the humanitarian crisis in their country.

The controversial MLA also called on the indigenous communities and fellow MLAs to play an active role in preventing illegal immigration and land encroachment. Speaking of land encroachment, it is rather the Meiteis and the Government of Manipur who encroached upon the tribal lands without due processes and consent of the land owners, in the form of Reserved Forests, for their selfish gain. History is  testament  to  the  fact that the Kukis are the indigenous land owners in most of the hill areas of state. Several British records  and  writings  stand  to  prove  this  fact. The Meitei MLA also suggested that the influx of undocumented immigrants could strain resources and disrupt the demographic balance of the state. On demography, L. Maheshwar must undertake a proper research and do his homework better by studying the official decadal census records of the Government of India. As per the latest census of 2011, the Kukis constitute only 14-15 percent of the total population of Manipur. Adding the few identified immigrants numbering about  2000 who fled for their lives to that number, still doesn’t hold enough grounds to affect neither the state resources nor cause a demographic imbalance to the state’s population. It is rather a disingenuous attempt to stain the Kuki community and point fingers at them to try and justify the heinous crimes committed in the name of protecting Kangleipak.