Imphal, Manipur, July 20 (HBTV): Nine persons including two Manipur state government employees were arrested allegedly for being involved in issuing fake Inner Line Permit cards (ILP). 

Disclosing this, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said raids were conducted at five locations where there was widespread issuance and sale of illegal Inner Line Permits.            

Among the arrested persons one is a lower division clerk in the Labour department and another worked at a deputy commissioner's office. It has been revealed that approximately 3,500 ILPs have been prepared through five outlets.     

Biren Singh said that a Special Investigating Team led by an additional superintendent of police would be instituted for further investigation into the case. The five locations that authorities raided include a computer centre at Namdunglong; a mobile repairing shop at Kakhulong; a mobile shop at Thangal Bazar; a computer centre near Babupara DC Bungalow office gate; and a reception counter of Cecil laboratory at RIMS road.            

During the raids, computers and laptops were seized. The chief minister said the government is viewing the issue seriously. Singh also clarified that only the deputy commissioners and the Labour Commissioners are the ILP card-issuing authorities and that they cannot authorize their subordinate officials to issue them.      

Biren Singh said anyone with fake ILP cards should surrender before the police or authorities at the earliest. He added that the government has already implemented the ILP Facial Recognition System to identify ILP defaulters.