Amit Shah Chairs High-Level Meeting on Manipur Security, Calls for Free Public Movement From March 8

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday led a high-level security review meeting in the national capital, focusing on the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur . The meeting comes in the wake of the imposition of the President’s Rule in the northeastern state and emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring peace and stability.

Key Directives From Amit Shah

During the review, the Home Minister issued crucial directives to officials, including:

• Unrestricted Movement: Authorities must ensure that people can move freely on all roads across Manipur starting March 8, 2025.
• Firm Action Against Disruptions: Any individual or group attempting to create obstructions will face strict action.
• Border Security Measures: The ongoing fencing work along designated entry points on Manipur’s international border should be expedited and completed at the earliest.
• War on Drugs: The entire network involved in drug trafficking in the state must be dismantled as part of efforts to make Manipur drug-free.

Attendees at the Security Review Meet

The meeting saw the participation of several top officials, including:

• Governor Ajay Bhalla
• Union Home Secretary
• Director, Intelligence Bureau
• Deputy Chief of Army Staff
• Army Commander of the Eastern Command
• Directors General of BSF, CRPF, and Assam Rifles
• Senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

Security Situation Following President’s Rule

This was the first such high-level security meeting since the President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The state has been embroiled in ethnic violence since May 2023, leading to the loss of over 250 lives and severe disruption in normal life.

Governor Extends Deadline for Surrendering Arms

In a parallel development, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla extended the deadline for the surrender of illegal and looted arms until 4 PM on March 6. The initial ultimatum, issued on February 20, saw more than 300 weapons voluntarily surrendered by the public, with 246 of them reportedly coming from the Meitei radical group, Arambai Tenggol. The extension was granted following requests from communities in both the valley and hill regions.

With security measures ramping up and peace initiatives underway, the government remains committed to stabilizing Manipur and restoring normalcy in the conflict-affected state.