Imphal, Dec 26: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the apex body representing the majority Meitei community in Manipur, has strongly opposed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recent notification introducing a border pass system. The system allows limited cross-border movement for Indian and Myanmar nationals residing within 10 km of the international boundary for specific purposes.

COCOMI described the December 24 notification as “unfortunate” and detrimental to the interests of Manipur and its people. Addressing the media on Wednesday, COCOMI Media Coordinator Yumkhaibam Surjit Kumar Khuman accused the Assam Rifles of bias and facilitating illegal activities, framing the notification as a threat to the state’s security and communal harmony.

He called for the immediate withdrawal of the notification, warning that it could undermine the integrity of Manipur. “Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists and infiltrators from Myanmar have already caused significant damage to Manipur and its people. This order will further erode the security, integrity, and social harmony of the state,” he stated.

The MHA’s notification to Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi outlined the introduction of the border pass system, which applies to Myanmar nationals within 10 km of the India-Myanmar border seeking entry into Manipur for specific purposes. The system also extends to Indian residents within the same radius travelling to Myanmar.

This new measure replaces the previously suspended Free Movement Regime (FMR), a mechanism that allowed freer movement across the border but had been paused due to security concerns.

Read: Senior BJP leader Rajen Gohain warns of party disarray in Assam

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