CM for ending FMR, intensifying anti-poppy drive
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, September 23 2023: Chief Minister N Biren has announced that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) with Myanmar which allows people on either side of the international boundary to travel up to 16 km inside each other's country is suspended at the moment as well as urge the centre permanently end the agreement in the state.

Biren also announced that as a precautionary measure, the state government had imposed a ban on the internet in the state, but it will be restored from Saturday onwards.

Briefing media persons at the Durbar Hall of the Chief Minister's Secretariat, here, on Saturday morning, N Biren highlighted some of the core issues to be taken up on priority basis by the state government.

One such issue is the FMR with Myanmar which allows people to cross the border without visa up to 16 km.

The agreement was taken advantage of by non-indigenous people to travel and settle inside the state, thereby creating myriad issues.

Thus, the state government has suspended the FRM with Myanmar at the state level and requested the central government to suspend the same as well, he informed.

Biren said that for the past four months, Manipur is in an unfortunate situation and many of its people affected.

The conflict was initially believed to be resentment against the development works taken up by the government due to torching of government properties but soon took on the shape of an ethnic conflict.

However, with full support of the centre, cooperation of all sections including the media, government machineries, MLAs and ministers, there has been a pause in gunfights and other violent incidents in the past one month.

The CM stated that the government has resolved to continue the functioning of the cabinet sub-committee constituted with ministers Letpao Haokip as the chairman and Awangbow Newmai and Th Basanta Kumar as members, to check and identify illegal immigrants with an objective to protect and safeguard the future of the indigenous people.

In view of the necessity of biometric recording as prelude to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the centre has been urged to extend the time for biometric process by a year in the state, he said, adding that it is the first priority.

Further explaining the importance of securing the border to check influx of illegal immigrants, the CM said that fencing work along the international boundary by identifying some vulnerable stretches have been awarded to the Border Road Organisation (BRO).

Thus, he urged the people to understand that the on-going conflict has been caused by those who are against the government's plan and other steps to identify illegal immigrants.

Meanwhile, rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced people at their original places, is another priority, he said, adding that around 700 displaced families in Torbung, and some in Sugnu have been resettled.

"Although the government has to work for the rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced people, construction of prefabricated houses, and deployment of security forces in vulnerable areas, how is the government supposed to take up all these works if there is unrest and turmoil in Imphal?" the chief minister asked.

Biren then said that it is the police and the security forces that are guarding the state.

The pause in gun fights witnessed over the past one month or so is because of strategic deployment of security forces in vulnerable areas.

The deployment of BSF and CRPF at vulnerable locations helped plug the identified gaps, thereby putting an end to gunfights.

Steps are being taken up to replace Assam Rifles deployed in vulnerable areas by BSF, he added.

In addition, security forces have started entering Churachandpur on top of those already deployed there with the support and cooperation of the people of the town, he stated, adding that 25 people have been arrested so far by the police in the district.

The arrested people are being held at some BSF camps, which have been declared as jails by the government.

Altogether seven charge-sheets have been filed, he conveyed.

CM Biren expressed grave concern over rise in instances of drug abuse among the youth bdlow 30 years of age, while highlighting the report of "Magnitude of Substance use in India 2019" published by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

He continued that the finding regarding prevalence of alcohol use, ganja use, opioids and others in Manipur is quite alarming and concerning, and thus, expressed the need to strengthen the 'War on Drugs' campaign in the state.

Regarding reports of some people preparing to harvest the poppy plantations in the hills, he said that the government has detailed surveillance records of the poppy plantations in the hill areas.

After discussing with Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the state chief secretary, a joint committee of the NCB and Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) along with BSF, Assam Rifles and state security forces would be utilising UAVs and drones to survey and destroy the poppy plantations before they could be harvested.

Biren then mentioned that during the past two three months, certain splinter groups with arms and donning police uniforms have created unrest in the society With a series of unwanted incidents like abductions, shooting people, etc.

He highlighted few incidents including the kidnapping of an engineer from Tingri by unknown armed person(s) in combat dress, kidnapping of a Kom individual from Tarung, Thangmeiband, abduction of an oil pump worker for refusing to pump oil for free, and placing of grenade at a residence in Ahallup for extortion, among others.

Amid the search for the missing Kom individual, five armed people in police uniform were arrested, he added.

The CM further lamented the distrust and disrespect shown to the government by a section of the society and said that it is the government with the support of the public that is facing all the issues in the state.

He sought trust in the government and affirmed that the government stands firmly to prevent balkanisation of Manipur.

"Humans should have mutual respect towards each other", he asserted.

Further speaking against the spread of fake news which abets unrest in the state, he said: "We should be clear on who we are fighting against instead of turning against each other.

We should be also clear that we are fighting against forces which are trying to disintegrate and break Manipur" .

Lamenting that certain organisations formed in localities seem to be fomenting unrest, Biren said that steps are being taken up to ensure that there is rule of law in all districts with the cooperation of people.

Regarding Airtel's alleged leakage of internet service in Churachandpur, he informed that the report was found to be true and two employees have been subsequently suspended.

The CM then appealed to all indigenous communities to join hands and stand united including the indigenous Kuki brothers and sisters to rebuild the old peaceful Manipur and ensure resettlement of the displaced families.

The press briefing was also attended by ministers Govindas Konthoujam and Thounaojam Basantakumar Singh, MLA Khumukcham Joykisan Singh and chief secretary Dr Vineet Joshi.

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