Aizawl: Security has been beefed up along the Mizoram-Assam border to curb possible influx of Bangladeshi infiltrators from Assam after publication of the final draft National Register of Citizens (NRC), a senior police officer said on Monday.

Mizoram's inspector-general of police L.H. Sanliana told The Telegraph that they have strengthened and reinforced the existing police outpost along Mizoram-Assam boundaries such as in Vairengte, Saiphai, Bairabi and Kanhmun to prevent entry of Bangladeshi nationals from Assam. He said no illegal infiltrator has been arrested.

The official said the state government has not seen any abnormality in the inflow of non-tribals from the neighbouring states. "No increase in the number of non-tribals entering Mizoram since the publication of the NRC final draft. There is no abnormality," he added.

The official said the state government has alerted all police outposts along the Mizoram-Assam boundaries and police were carrying out day-night patrolling. Sanliana said the state government has not received any threat on the entry of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Mizoram. "It would not be a big problem for the law enforcement agency to differentiate and detect foreigners as their physical structure is totally different from the Mizo tribes," he said. The official said the state government had already sounded an alert in view of the possibility of illegal influx from Assam prior to the publication of NRC final draft.

According to Sanliana, all police stations and outposts were conducting regular inner-line permit (ILP) drives in all districts to arrest violators. He said at least 36 people were arrested here in the first week of August for violating the ILP regulation.

He, however, regretted that the police department faced inconvenience in pushing back the ILP violators owing to shortage of vehicles.

The official also called upon the people of Mizoram to support the government in rounding up illegal infiltrators and deporting them.

Various political parties and student bodies have launched attacks on the state for allegedly failing to take security measure in view of possible entry of foreigners.

Mizo Zirlai Pawl had earlier set an August 15 deadline and threatened to set up infiltration check gates along the Mizoram-Assam border if the government fails to take any step to prevent influx of Bangladeshi nationals.