Itanagar, June 5: The Pema Khandu government has constituted a High-Powered Committee to examine issues related to illegal infiltration and undocumented immigration in the state, following recent consultations with stakeholders across various sectors.
The Chief Minister said the committee is one of four panels proposed after discussions with community-based organisations, civil society groups, student bodies, legal experts and others.
As per an official order issued by the Home Department, the committee will be chaired by Environment and Forests Minister Wangki Lowang, with the Commissioner (Home) serving as Member Secretary.
Members include representatives from the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union, the All Arunachal Tribal Forum, the Arunachal ST Bachao Andolan Committee, along with legal experts and academics.
The panel has been tasked with assessing the extent of illegal infiltration and immigration in the state and recommending measures to strengthen border control mechanisms.
Its terms of reference include examining the use of forged identity documents, reviewing undocumented settlement patterns, and proposing the adoption of biometric and digital verification systems. It will also recommend administrative and legal safeguards to curb misuse of identity papers.
The committee has been mandated to submit its report within six months of its first meeting. It will also be empowered to co-opt experts and seek data from government departments and district administrations as required.
Chief Minister Khandu said the initiative aims to safeguard the interests of indigenous communities and strengthen institutional mechanisms to address concerns related to migration and border management.
The decision comes amid ongoing public debate in the state over identity verification and demographic changes in border areas.
