Amit Shah Initiates Unrestricted Movement in Manipur from March 8
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Synopsis
On March 1, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ordered for the free movement of people in Manipur from March 8. He warned of strict action against obstructions. The directive aims to restore peace amid ongoing ethnic violence in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Free movement of people in Manipur mandated from March 8.
- Officials warned against creating obstructions.
- Focus on restoring peace and normalcy in the state.
- Measures against extortion and drug trafficking emphasized.
- Over 300 illegal weapons surrendered in a week.
New Delhi, March 1 (NationPress) Union Home Minister Amit Shah has instructed officials on Saturday to facilitate the unrestricted movement of individuals on all routes in Manipur starting March 8, cautioning them against creating barriers under threat of strict penalties.
This directive emerged from a high-ranking review meeting held at 11 am in the North Block Home Ministry.
Present at the meeting were Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla, senior Army leaders, and high-ranking paramilitary officials. This marked the inaugural meeting addressing the Manipur crisis post the implementation of President's Rule in the region.
The central aim of the meeting was to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur, which has faced ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities since May 2023. The unrest has claimed over 200 lives in the state over a span of nearly two years.
As per a statement from the Home Ministry, during the session, the Home Minister urged officials to take stringent measures against extortion activities in the area.
He also mandated that efforts to fence both sides of the entry points along the international border with Manipur should be accelerated.
Moreover, a resolution was reached to eliminate the entire network involved in drug trafficking, aiming to establish a drug-free environment in Manipur.
This security review followed a warning issued by Governor Bhalla on February 20, which encouraged individuals to relinquish any illegal and looted arms.
In the week following this announcement, over 300 weapons have been returned, primarily from the valley districts. Notably, 246 firearms were surrendered by the Meitei group Arambai Tenggol.
This meeting was preceded by a discussion held by Amit Shah on Friday concerning the situation surrounding the Rohingya and illegal immigration in Delhi. He instructed Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the Delhi Police to enhance their efforts in identifying and deporting illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and the Rohingya community, labeling them a threat to national security.
