'Free movement of people on all roads from March 8': Home minister Amit Shah reviews security situation in Manipur

NEW DELHI: Reiterating the Centre’s resolve to aid the restoration of lasting peace in Manipur, home minister Amit Shah on Saturday issued specific directions to the authorities to ensure the free movement of people on the all roads in the state, starting March 8.
Shah, who chaired a high-level meeting here to review the situation in Manipur struck by multiple spells of ethnic violence since May 2023, asked for strict action to be taken against anyone trying to create road obstructions in the state.
Also keen to check illegal cross-border movement across the Indo-Myanmar border — often linked to the ethnic tension brewing in the state for the past 21 months — Shah ordered the fencing work to the left and right side of designated entry points along Manipur's international border, to be completed at the earliest. He further insisted that efforts be stepped up to dismantle the entire drug trafficking network in the state, with the aim to make Manipur drug-free.
The high-level review meeting — attended by Manipur governor Ajay Bhalla, Union home secretary, Intelligence Bureau director, deputy chief of Army Staff, Army Commander of the Eastern Command, DGs of BSF and CRPF, Manipur security advisor and senior officials of the Manipur administration — is the first after Manipur was placed under President’s rule.
The meeting is believed to have reviewed the law and order and overall security situation in both Valley and hill areas of the state. Manipur has not witnessed any major incidents of ethnic violence for almost four months now. The high-level review is said to have taken stock of the response to Governor Bhalla governor’s appeal for surrender of weapons looted in the wake of outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023.
During the meeting, Shah said that the Modi govt remains fully committed to restoring lasting peace in Manipur and is providing all necessary assistance in this regard.