Guwahati: In what may have international ramification, the Manipur government has called for the cancellation of the free movement regime with Myanmar that allows people residing close to both sides of the India-Myanmar border to venture 16 km deep into each other's territory without any document.
Announcing that mobile internet services, which were suspended after ethnic violence erupted in the state on May 3, will be restored from Saturday, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh told reporters, “The government had suspended mobile internet services on May 3 to check the spread of fake news, propaganda and hate speech. However, with the improvement of the situation, mobile internet services will be restored across the state from today."
Informing that his government has asked for cancellation of free movement regime in the wake of the prevailing law and order situation of the state, the chief minister however clarified that the present situation was a result of unplanned policies of the previous governments, and not an immediate aftermath of any recent decision.
He said, “Our government has requested the Union Home Ministry to cancel the free movement regime. Also, security forces have not been properly guarding the border. Instead of being deployed at zero point, they were found guarding the border 14-15 km inside Indian territory.”
Mr Singh claimed that the Union Home Ministry has taken steps to fence 60 km of the international border in Manipur.
He asserted that his government will continue to deal with the influx of "illegal immigrants" and stressed the need for complete fencing of the India-Myanmar border. He said that the process for collecting biometric data of “illegal” immigrants in the state will continue in full swing.
The chief minister also came down heavily on the bandh culture and incidents of "rampant verbal abuse against MLAs, ministers and police officials, which has diverted people from real issues and created conflict among ourselves".
“Over the last two months, the situation has improved and the frequency of firing incidents has come down with the deployment of security forces in vulnerable areas," he said.
Mr Singh claimed that a countrywide survey has found a rise in drug and substance abuse among youths of the state, which was the reason why his government launched a 'war on drugs' in 2018. “This will continue... it will be carried out more strongly to destroy poppy plantations in the hills," he said.
The state has also set up a committee, jointly with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Narcotics & Affairs of Border (NAB), to survey the poppy plantation in the state. It will use the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and drone to survey and destroy the poppy plantation, he said.
People from Torbung, Serou, Koutruk who were displaced in ethnic violence have started re-settlement in their respective hometown, the chief minister said. The construction work of prefabricated houses in different sites were also completed, he added.
Mr Singh said that incidents of extortion, kidnappings, and perpetrating other crimes by miscreants impersonating policemen have increased.
The chief minister also asserted that his government has taken multiple initiatives to establish the rule of law in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Moreh, and Imphal.
