Centre Asks Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram to Monitor Foreigners’ Activities Closely

The Union Home Ministry urged state governments to ensure full compliance and to sensitize all relevant authorities.

The Union Home Ministry has instructed police and security agencies in Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram to closely monitor the activities of foreigners visiting these states.

In a circular issued on December 17, the ministry urged state governments to strengthen their systems for tracking foreign visitors, particularly in light of growing security concerns along the Myanmar border.

The ministry emphasized that the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and local police should carefully watch foreigners’ activities, and if any adverse actions are seen, appropriate measures should be taken under relevant laws, including the Foreigners Act.

This circular marks the withdrawal of the relaxation under the Protected Area Regime (PAR), which had allowed foreigners to visit these states without a Protected Area Permit (PAP) since 2010.

The exemption was initially set to continue until December 2027 but has now been revoked due to security concerns.

The PAPs or special permits will now be processed exclusively through the e-FRRO portal, with no physical permits being issued.

Any pending physical applications will be integrated into the online system.

The ministry urged state governments to ensure full compliance and to sensitize all relevant authorities.

All foreigners planning to visit these states must now obtain a PAP through designated authorities.

This move has come following rising concerns about border security and the influx of foreigners, especially as Manipur faces ongoing ethnic violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, which has resulted in over 250 deaths and 60,000 displaced individuals since May 2023.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held at the 26 Sector Pallel of Assam Rifles between the Assam Rifles and other border security forces on December 22 to discuss the issue of the border pass system between India and Myanmar.

The Myanmar government introduced the border pass system on August 8, 2018, when the land route between India and Myanmar was opened at Moreh.

While the Myanmar side launched their border pass, the Indian border pass system could not be introduced during the opening ceremony due to a lack of clearance from the Home Department.

Previous discussions had suggested that the Border Pass for India would be issued by the designated Immigration Officer or the SDPO. Initially, individuals needed a clearance letter from the SDPO of Manipur Police at Moreh to visit Myanmar using the border pass.

However, following the proper functioning of the Integrated Check Post at Moreh, the requirement for a clearance letter was phased out, and the border pass could now be obtained only through the immigration officer using a passport.

This change in procedures was discussed at the recent meeting, highlighting the evolving process for cross-border travel between India and Myanmar.

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