Mizoram cancels biometrics of ‘illegal migrants’: Minister Lalruatkima

Chief Minister Zoramthanga led Mizoram government has decided not to go ahead with the proposed collection of biometric and biographic data of Myanmar refugees taking shelter in the state.

The decision was taken during meeting of the council of ministers at the Chief Minister’s Office today, said State Minister for Information and Public Relations, Lalruatkima.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Minister Lalruatkima said that the Ministry of Home Affairs had instructed the Mizoram government to collect biographic and biometric date of the Myanmar refugees.

He said, “Collection of biometric and biographic data of the Myanmar refugees will amount to discrimination of the refugees who are of our blood and kindred brothers and sisters. So, the meeting of the council of ministers decided not to undertake collection of the data of the refugees as of now.”

Refugees from neighbouring countries cannot be given refugee status in Mizoram as India is not a signatory to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the protocol, he said, adding that repeated appeals to the centre for humanitarian aid to the Myanmar refugees also did not yield positive results.

The matter had been taken up with the Union Home Ministry, but the centre insisted on collection of data, he said.