Assam's Manipuri Muslim body seeks ILP exemption for Manipuris entering Manipur

Imphal: The Manipuri Muslim (Pangal) Development Organisation (MMDO), Assam, has submitted a memorandum to the Manipur government raising concerns over the requirement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Manipuris, particularly Manipuri Muslims (Meitei Pangal), residing in Assam and Tripura when entering Manipur.

The memorandum was submitted to the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, by Md. Abdul Nur Choudhury, President of the MMDO, Assam, along with five members of the organisation.

It highlights the difficulties faced by non-locals entering Manipur due to the lack of proper official documents. The memorandum was presented during a meeting with the Governor at Raj Bhavan, Imphal, on Wednesday.

Md. Abdul Nur Choudhury stated that the community shares deep historical, cultural, and ancestral ties with Manipur and urged the government to treat them as part of the same social and ethnic lineage. The Governor assured the delegation that the matter would be examined.

The ILP system was introduced in Manipur on January 1, 2020, making it the fourth state after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram to implement the requirement.

Under this regulation, outsiders, including citizens from other parts of India, must obtain official permission to visit states under the ILP regime.

According to official reports, a new temporary ILP pass is issued to Indian citizens upon arrival at the ILP Check Post or Gate in Jiribam, valid for 30 days.

The ILP is an official travel document issued by the state government, allowing an Indian citizen to enter and stay in Manipur for a specified period.

This is in exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 2 and 4 of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 (Regulation 5 of 1873), as extended to the State of Manipur by the Order of the President of India No. S.O. 4433(E) dated December 11, 2019.