Imphal, July 2: Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has welcomed the state government’s recent steps to tighten the Aadhaar issuance process, calling it a critical move to safeguard the identity and integrity of the indigenous population.
“I appreciate the enhanced measures recently undertaken by the state government to strengthen and streamline the Aadhaar issuance process in Manipur. These efforts are critical to safeguarding our integrity and identity,” Singh wrote in a statement shared on social media platform X.
I appreciate the enhanced measures recently undertaken by the State Government to strengthen and streamline the Aadhaar issuance process in Manipur. These efforts are critical to safeguarding our integrity and identity.
In addition, it is equally important to remember that… pic.twitter.com/CM9MG4VVxp
— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) July 2, 2025
Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar, in a statement on Tuesday, said that Manipur has adopted one of the most stringent processes for issuing Aadhaar to adults, ensuring robust scrutiny and enhanced security in line with the Ministry of Home Affairs and UIDAI guidelines.
“Each case of adult Aadhaar has to be mandatorily scrutinised and approved only at the level of the state headquarters in the office of the Special Secretary, Home,” the statement said.
It further stated that a meeting chaired by the Governor at the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday focused on Aadhaar enrolment, upgradation, and service delivery in the state.
“These updates are crucial for ensuring that Aadhaar data remains current and secure, preventing misuse of identity,” the statement said, adding that they also play a key role in enabling seamless access to government schemes and financial services by eliminating authentication issues.
Biren Singh also stressed the need to align Aadhaar-related procedures with Manipur’s Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, which regulates the entry and stay of non-residents in the state. “The Aadhaar issuance process and all related matters must always adhere to the provisions of the ILP to prevent unauthorized settlements and protect the rights of the indigenous population,” he said.
Citing past lapses, Singh pointed to instances where individuals reportedly used questionable documents to settle in the state. He highlighted the case of the late Nehginpao Kipgen, who, according to media reports, was born in Teijang, Myanmar, in 1975, later came to Manipur for education, and eventually lived as an Indian citizen—without his foreign origins ever being formally questioned.
In another case, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Imphal West ordered a police investigation into the citizenship status of a professor from Hyderabad University and his family. Their names allegedly appeared for the first time in the electoral rolls of Churachandpur in 2005, with no previous records—raising serious concerns over undocumented entries into the system.
“These cases highlight how such entries can quietly slip into the system when proper checks are not in place,” Singh warned, adding, “There is an urgent need for strict verification mechanisms and close coordination between Aadhaar issuing authorities, ILP enforcement agencies, and local administrative bodies.”
Calling it a matter of national security, he noted Manipur’s proximity to the porous Myanmar border and China, stressing that “strict identity checks are essential to protect the country’s safety and interests.”
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