Union Minister for Home Amit Shah on Saturday issued directions to the administration and security forces in Manipur to ensure free movement of people on all roads in the troubled state, which is under President’s Rule, beginning March 8, officials said.  
While chairing a high-level security review meeting on violence-hit Manipur, the Home Minister has also given instructions to the state authorities to take strict action against anyone attempting to obstruct movement on the roads, they said.
The meeting, which was held here, mainly discussed ways and means to restore peace and normalcy in the northeastern state, which has been struggling with ethnic violence since May 2023.
The Home Minister chaired the first such review meeting since the imposition of President’s Rule in the state.
Later in a statement, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, the Home Minister instructed the officials to take appropriate measures to make Manipur drug-free by dismantling narcotic trade networks in the state.
The meeting was attended by the Governor of Manipur Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Army Commander of the Eastern Command, Directors General of Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Assam Rifles, Security Advisor, Manipur and senior officers of the MHA, Army and Manipur administration.
Shah also directed that the fencing work on both sides of the designated entry points along Manipur’s international border should be completed at the earliest.
The Home Minister also held the meeting in the wake of an ultimatum issued by Governor Bhalla on February 20, urging all individuals in possession of illegal and looted weapons to surrender them.
During the seven days following the Governor’s ultimatum, more than 300 weapons were surrendered, mostly in the valley districts. Around 246 firearms were turned in by the Meitei group Arambai Tenggol.
However, on Friday, in response to requests from people in both hill and valley areas, the Governor extended the deadline for surrendering illegal and looted arms until 4 pm on March 6.
Huge number of weapons had been looted from police stations across Manipur during the initial phase of ethnic violence and the Centre has since been working to retrieve these arms as part of its broader strategy to stabilize the region.
President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13 following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The state assembly, which is set to run until 2027, has been suspended.