The central government has announced the reimposition of the Protected Area Regime (PAR) in three northeastern states: Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland. The decision reverses a policy from 2011, which had aimed to boost tourism by relaxing these restrictions, and comes amid growing concerns over border security and illegal immigration.
The Protected Area Regime requires foreign nationals to obtain a special permit (Protected Area Permit) to enter these regions, a measure initially implemented under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.
The reintroduction of PAR is seen as a response to the complex security dynamics in the region, particularly the ongoing unrest in Manipur, which has seen significant ethnic violence since May 2023.
Invisible hand behind Manipur unrest, says state’s former Chief Justice
Adding to the discourse, former Chief Justice of Manipur High Court, Siddharth Mridul, has spoken out about the persistent turmoil in Manipur.
In a recent panel discussion titled ‘Understanding the Barriers of Northeast India and Manipur Violence: The Way Forward,’ Mr. Mridul suggested there might be an ‘invisible hand’ at play behind the ethnic violence in the state.
Siddharth Mridul, whose tenure as Chief Justice coincided with the early days of the conflict, expressed that the situation in Manipur seems to be manipulated whenever peace appears to be on the horizon.
‘Every time there’s a semblance of normalcy, someone injects a fresh dose of violence, he said. He emphasized that there would be nothing left to protect without peace and normalcy in the state.
The former Chief Justice highlighted the challenges of governance in a region where even a significant military presence, over 60,000 personnel, has been unable to quell the unrest. He suggested addressing the conflict’s root causes, including employment, displacement, and community rights, to achieve lasting peace.