Nagaland Setting up STF to Detect Illegal Immigrants

[Kesang]

Nagaland Setting up STF to Detect Illegal Immigrants


Following reports of NGOs and village councils undertaking drives to detect illegal immigrants, the Home Department of the Nagaland government has stepped in by setting up a Special Task Force (STF) to detect illegal immigrants. A press note to this effect was issued by the Chief Secretary dated April 4, 2012. The Chief Secretary pointed out that“attention of the Government has been drawn to reports that certain NGOs have decided to screen people belonging to a particular community with a view to segregate and identify illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and issue Identity Cards to those who are found to be bonafide Indian citizens through their screening process”.
The State government has also taken note of “blank forms and undertakings being issued by realizing certain fees”. “Such screening and issue of Identity Cards to non members by any NGOs is without jurisdiction and without any legal basis”, the Chief Secretary cautioned while clarifying that detection and deportation of illegal foreign immigrants is governed by The Foreigners Act 1946 and therules framed there under to detect illegal immigrants and prosecute them under law. It was informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had laid down detailed instructions for detection and deportation of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh while ensuring that no harassment is meted out to genuine Indian Citizens in the name of checking such illegal immigrants. Copies of such instructions have already been circulated to DCs/SPs, the Chief Secretary informed.
While stating that the NGOs might be acting with the best of intentions, the State government pointed out that such actions “encroach on the legal jurisdiction of the State Government and law enforcing agencies”. It therefore ordered that the district administration and the police shall setup a Special Task Force as provided under therelevant instructions dated 23.11.2009, to conduct detection drives at regular intervals in their respective districts and prosecute illegal immigrants as per law. Whenever sucha detection drive is undertaken, local NGOs representing various sections of the society may be invited to associate themselves with such drives, the government order stated while adding that the District Authorities may invite interested NGOs and apprise them of the laid down procedures and legal provisions and “dissuade them from taking the law in their hands.”


Nagaland Setting up STF to Detect Illegal Immigrants | Northeast Today