By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: The Arunachal Pradesh government has constituted a high-powered committee to address issues relating to illegal infiltration and immigration and recommend measures to strengthen border management and identity verification systems in the state.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced the formation of the committee on Thursday, describing it as one of four panels proposed following consultations with community-based organisations, civil society groups, student bodies, legal experts and other stakeholders.
According to a Home Department order, Environment and Forests Minister Wangki Lowang will chair the committee, while the Commissioner (Home) will serve as Member Secretary.
The panel includes representatives of the All Arunachal Tribal Forum (AITF), All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), Arunachal ST Bachao Andolan Committee, along with legal experts and academics.
The committee has been tasked with assessing the extent of illegal infiltration and immigration in Arunachal Pradesh and recommending measures to strengthen border control and monitoring mechanisms.
Its mandate includes examining the use of forged identity documents and undocumented settlement networks, suggesting the adoption of biometric and digital verification systems, and recommending legal and administrative measures to curb the use of fake or illegally obtained identity papers.
The government has directed that all recommendations remain within the framework of existing laws and constitutional provisions.
Khandu said the committee would undertake a comprehensive review of the issue and propose measures to safeguard the interests of the state and its indigenous communities.
The panel has been given six months from the date of its first meeting to submit its report to the government.
It has also been authorised to seek reports, data and status updates from government departments and district administrations and may co-opt additional experts as special invitees whenever required.
The committee was constituted with the approval of the Chief Minister amid growing public debate over migration, identity verification and border management in the frontier state.