As many as nine individuals, including one government official each from the DC Office and Labour Department, have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in a large-scale scam related to Inner Line Permit (ILP) cards.
The scam, which spanned across five different locations in Manipur, reportedly involved the issuance of as many as 3,500 fake ILP cards intended for labour permits.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh, addressing the media from his secretariat in Imphal, expressed deep concern over the scandal.
He disclosed that suspicions of high-ranking officials and businessmen being involved prompted the formation of a Special Investigation Team to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
“The government has strictly authorised only DCs and Labour Commissioners to issue ILP cards. However, it has come to light that unauthorised personnel were also handling these sensitive matters,” CM Biren said.
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The raids were conducted at five locations namely, a computer center at Namdulong, a mobile repair shop at Kakulong, a mobile shop at Thangal Bazar, a computer center near Babupara DC Bungalow, and a reception counter at RIMS road, yielded substantial evidence. Police recovered documents pertaining to approximately 3,500 illicitly issued ILP cards, exposing a well-coordinated operation to deceive authorities and exploit the ILP system.
Highlighting the loopholes in the enforcement of ILP regulations, Biren emphasised that some officials neglected the mandated base year of December 31, 1961, which determines eligibility for ILP.
“This lax implementation has contributed significantly to the current crisis. We must address this with utmost seriousness,” he asserted.
In response to the discovery, alerts have been issued to all police stations with photographs of the alleged holders of fake ILP cards, he said, calling all perpetrators to surrender to avoid legal consequences, offering them a chance to rectify their actions voluntarily.
To reinforce the efficacy of the ILP administration in Manipur, the chief minister announced stringent measures across all ILP counters in Manipur.
“The ILP was a gift from the central government, led by PM Modi and Amit Shah, to safeguard the indigenous population. Failing to uphold its integrity would be a disservice to this noble objective,” he added.
