Arunachal Pradesh has expelled 297 people without valid papers in a drive against ‘illegal’ migrants launched amid reports that the ongoing exercise to upgrade the National Register of Citizens in Assam could push those of doubtful citizenship into the frontier State.
Officials in Arunachal districts bordering Assam have also warned contractors and agencies involved in construction projects of punitive action if they do not ensure that labourers brought from outside the State have valid documents such as the inner line permit (ILP).
The ILP is an official travel document that allows entry for an Indian citizen into a protected or restricted area for a limited period. Apart from Arunachal Pradesh, the ILP is also needed to enter Mizoram and Nagaland.
“The district administration has instructed the police to intensify checking of documents at entry gates to keep out illegal migrants who may create law and order problems and disturb peace and tranquillity,” Prince Dhawan, Deputy Commissioner of Capital Complex, said.
The police in Capital Complex – it encompasses twin cities of Itanagar and Naharlagun – rounded up 135 people without valid documents on Wednesday and expelled them to Assam.
The drive had started with south-eastern Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district from where 101 people were expelled. Similar drives were carried out in West Kameng (47) and Tirap (14) districts.
The officials said the drive will continue.
