Agartala, July 14 — Tipra Motha Party founder and MDC Pradyot Kishore Debbarman has called for a voter identification verification drive in Tripura, similar to the one reportedly conducted in Bihar, to detect illegal immigrants who may have enrolled in the state's electoral rolls.
Citing a report by a national news outlet, Debbarman claimed that an internal survey by the Election Commission of India (ECI) found a notable presence of Bangladeshi and Myanmar nationals in Tripura who possess Indian identity documents such as Aadhaar cards and voter IDs.
"Even though Tripura is a land-locked state, a large number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar have settled here. This is a matter of serious concern," said Debbarman on Sunday.
He further informed that the Tipra Motha Party would soon submit a memorandum to the ECI, endorsed by all its MLAs and MDCs, demanding a comprehensive probe into the electoral roll to identify and remove illegal immigrants. “We are seeking an appointment with the ECI to formally present our concerns,” he said.
Debbarman urged all regional political parties in the Northeast to unite on this issue. “We share porous borders with neighboring countries, making the region vulnerable to infiltration. If we don't act now, the situation could spiral out of control,” he warned.
He also appealed for a unified stand among indigenous leaders across party lines. “While we keep fighting each other politically, others are taking advantage. We must speak with one voice to safeguard our communities,” he added.
The statement has sparked renewed debate on border security and electoral integrity in Tripura, a state with a history of demographic changes due to migration.
