New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed authorities to ensure the unrestricted movement of people across all roads in Manipur starting March 8.
The order, issued during a high-level review meeting in the North Block on Saturday, emphasised strict action against any attempts to create obstructions.
The meeting, which began at 11 am, was attended by Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla, senior Army officials, and top paramilitary officers.
It marked the first official discussion on the Manipur crisis since the imposition of President’s Rule in the state.
The key focus was to restore peace and stability in Manipur, a state plagued by ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities since May 2023.
The ongoing unrest has claimed over 200 lives over the past two years.
According to a statement from the Home Ministry, Shah also directed authorities to intensify efforts against extortion and expedite border fencing along entry points on the international border with Manipur.
In addition, he stressed the need to dismantle drug trafficking networks to achieve a “drug-free Manipur.”
The meeting followed a February 20 ultimatum by Governor Bhalla, urging individuals to surrender illegal and looted weapons.
ALSO READ: Home Minister Amit Shah chairs review meeting on security situation in Manipur
In response, over 300 weapons were surrendered within a week, predominantly from the Meitei group Arambai Tenggol, which handed over 246 firearms in the valley districts.
The Home Minister’s directives come alongside a broader focus on national security.
On Friday, Shah held a separate meeting addressing illegal immigration in Delhi, instructing Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the Delhi Police to accelerate efforts to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants, describing them as a “threat to national security.”
