The Arunachal Pradesh government has constituted a High-Powered Committee to study issues related to illegal infiltration and illegal immigration in the state and recommend measures to address them within the framework of existing laws and constitutional provisions.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced the formation of the committee on Thursday, describing it as one of four panels proposed following a series of consultations with community organisations, civil society groups, student bodies, legal experts and other stakeholders.
According to an official order issued by the Home Department, the committee will be headed by Environment and Forests Minister Wangki Lowang. The Commissioner (Home) will serve as the Member Secretary of the panel.
The committee includes representatives from the All Arunachal Tribal Forum (AITF), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), the Arunachal ST Bachao Andolan Committee, along with legal experts and academics. The government said the composition of the panel is intended to ensure broad participation from different sections of society while examining the issue.
The committee has been assigned the task of studying the extent and nature of illegal infiltration and illegal immigration in Arunachal Pradesh. It will also examine existing challenges and recommend practical measures to strengthen border management and monitoring systems.
Among its key responsibilities, the panel will suggest ways to improve border control mechanisms and explore the adoption of biometric and digital verification systems. The committee will also study issues relating to forged identity documents, undocumented settlement networks and the alleged use of fake or illegally obtained identity papers.
Officials said the committee will recommend suitable administrative and legal measures to tackle such concerns while ensuring that all actions remain consistent with existing legal and constitutional safeguards.
Announcing the decision, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the committee would undertake a comprehensive examination of the issue and recommend measures necessary to protect the interests of the state and its indigenous communities.
“The committee will examine all aspects of the issue and propose measures required to safeguard the interests of Arunachal Pradesh and its indigenous people,” Khandu said.
The panel has been given six months from the date of its first meeting to submit its recommendations to the state government. It has also been authorised to seek information, reports, data and status updates from various government departments and district administrations whenever required.
In addition, the committee has been empowered to co-opt subject experts and specialists as special invitees to assist in its deliberations and provide technical inputs on specific issues.
The order constituting the committee was issued with the approval of the Chief Minister. The move comes amid increasing public discussion in the state on matters relating to migration, identity verification, border management and the protection of indigenous interests in the frontier state.
Government officials said the recommendations of the committee are expected to help shape future policy measures and administrative actions concerning border security and identity verification in Arunachal Pradesh.
