States asked to get biometrics of illegal immigrants

New Delhi: As part of a major security drive to identify and track movement of illegal migrants in the country, home ministry has asked all states and union territories to collects biometric details of Rohingyas and other such illegal migrants living in their respective areas.

The Centre has asked the state governments to instruct their respective police forces to collect biometric details of these illegal migrants and prepare a comprehensive database. According to the home ministry’s estimates, nearly 40,000 Rohingyas are staying illegally in different parts of the country, while as many as 14,000 of them are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

During a discussion on the issue of illegal migrants in Parliament earlier this year, home minister Rajnath Singh had informed that some of these illegal migrants have been found to be indulging in illegal activities and were a potential security threat.  

The home minister also claimed that border-guarding forces have already been put on alert to check their infiltration into the country. The home ministry officials clarified that biometrics were being collected only for security reasons and this does not mean that Rohingyas or other such illegal migrants would get any valid identification documents.

The officials further added that documents like Aadhaar could be issued only to those non-citizens who visit India legally and are residents in India for minimum six months.

Since Rohingyas were illegal migrants they do not qualify for getting any valid or legal documents.

Even the Supreme Court has already directed the Centre to ensure that Aadhaar card are not issued to illegal immigrants. While describing Rohingyas in the country as illegal immigrants, the home minister said that state governments have already been directed to closely monitor their movements and gather necessary details regarding them so that they could be deported to  Myanmar.