Unveiling Manipur’s Secret Fight Against Fraudulent Aadhaar and Voter Identity Card Groups

In recent times, a special police team has been working to track down a racket and arrest several accused individuals amidst ethnic violence. The police have released samples of fake identity cards held by two Myanmar nationals who were found living in a district in Manipur. Both individuals have been arrested.

An officer with direct knowledge of the matter stated that the police have been working on numerous cases and have leads on many more. The officer declined to comment on the locations and timeline of the arrests due to concerns that illegal immigrants with fake papers may go into hiding. The fake Aadhaar and voter cards of the arrested Myanmar nationals show an address in Churachandpur district, but the officer noted that illegal immigrants can write any place they choose based on the advice of the criminals running the racket.

Sources in the state government revealed that the discreet operation to catch illegal immigrants with fake Indian identity documents is focused mainly in southern Manipur, but they also declined to disclose exact locations due to the sensitive nature of the matter amidst ethnic tensions. A senior police officer involved in the operation informed that fake identity document rackets in Manipur were run by locals for quick money. The biometrics of refugees from Myanmar are being recorded in Manipur, and government officials indicated a focus on uncovering as many identity paper rackets as possible in the border state.

The officer involved in the current operation mentioned that police investigations into fake Aadhaar gangs in Manipur continue for a long time as the local criminals often have links with agents abroad who push illegal immigrants into India. The state of Manipur has experienced ethnic violence since May 2023, when conflict arose between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes. The Meiteis seek inclusion under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category, while the Kuki tribes seek a separate administration or “Kukiland” carved out of Manipur.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 220 deaths and nearly 50,000 displacements. The situation presents a significant challenge to security and stability, and the authorities are focused on addressing the complex issues underlying the conflict while also tackling issues related to illegal immigration and fake identity documents in the region.