IMPHAL: Manipur government has resumed collecting biometric information of illegal immigrants from Myanmar amid escalating ethnic tensions. The action follows the central government's directive to the governments of Manipur and Mizoram to collect biometric data on illegal immigrants.

The verification will continue in all districts until the biometric data of all illegal Myanmar migrants in the state is collected. The government believes that it can be completed by September 2023. On July 28, the state nodal officer issued instructions to the superintendents of police of all districts in this regard. There are indications that migrants are involved in the ongoing ethnic conflicts in the state.

A team from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has been dispatched to train state government officials to collect biometric data of migrants, Home Department Joint Secretary Peter Salam said. He also stated that the data collection will be completed by September.

According to reports citizens are entering India due to the conflict in Myanmar. 209 men, 208 women and 301 children who migrated to Manipur's Chandel district following the riots in Khampat in Myanmar on July 23 were arrested. Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced in February 2023 that 393 Myanmar nationals had been arrested in the state from January 2012 to February 2023.