Manipur: Internet will be lifted, says CM N Biren Singh

He said action has been taken against two Airtel staff for violating internet ban in Churachandpur district.

Internet was banned on May 3 this year after riots started in Churachandpur district.

Addressing the media at the Secretariat here, Singh said the Manipur government formed a committee to enquire into the influx of illegal immigrants headed by Minister Letpao Haokip.

The works of the committee will continue, he said the centre had instructed the completion of biometrics data within this month but it is yet to be over.

The government has requested extension of the biometrics collection for another one year to take up the National Register of Citizens (NRC), he added.

The Chief Minister said, to stop influx of people, the 398 km Manipur Myanmar international border has to be guarded.

Work to fence 79 km will start, he said.

India and Myanmar have Free movement Regime (FMR) which enables people from both countries to move freely upto 16 km into each other’s territory. The border was not properly fenced and the FMR deteriorated the situation in Manipur, Singh said.

Recommendation was made for cancellation of FMR, he added.

The government has started taking up works to rehabilitate displaced families by building temporary houses, the CM said.

The security personnel are still under stress and people should stop disturbing them, he further said.

Government has identified all the vulnerable points from where attacks on civilians were reported and BSF and CRPF personnel were deployed which has resulted in improvement of the situation, Singh said.

The Government will also continue the war against drugs. A survey will be carried out to detect poppy plantations and it will be destroyed, he announced.

A report which indicated high use of drug, intoxicants, liquor in Manipur is alarming and people should fight the menace, Singh said and appealed to all civil societies to resolve the crisis in Manipur due to clashes between two ethnic groups.

The Chief Minister also said all illegal weapons held by any person or groups across the State should be surrendered within a period of 15 days.

At the end of the 15 days, Security Forces, both from the Centre and the State will undertake a strong and comprehensive search operation all over the State to recover such weapons, and all persons associated with any illegal weapons will be dealt with severely, as per the law.

He further said there have been reports of extortion, threats and abduction by miscreants/ groups using illegal weapons. This is a serious matter and the State Government will take strong action against such miscreants/ groups in any part of the State.