Latest news with #ProtectedAreaPermit
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
NE groups slam US travel advisory, call it ‘utterly irrational'
Guwahati: As the US State Department issued a Level-2 travel advisory for India, with special mention of Manipur and the northeast, leading organisations of the region like the North East Student Organisation (Neso) raised strong objections to such a move. Post-pandemic, tourist footfall has increased across several northeastern destinations, particularly in Assam. A key factor behind this rise has been the improved law and order situation, following the surrender of multiple militant outfits. Neso advisor Samujjal Bhattacharjya said the latest Level-2 travel advisory for India by the US State Department was unwarranted and unjustified. "The entire North-Eastern region is safe and best known for its hospitality. It has always welcomed visitors from across the globe," Bhattacharjya wrote on his X handle on Sunday. He said that such blanket advisories perpetuate unfounded prejudices and must be reconsidered. The All Assam Students' Union (Aasu), a constituent of Neso, also said the travel advisory was utterly irrational. "Assam is a state known for its scenic beauty and the hospitality of the local people. Safety was never a concern for tourists and visitors in Assam. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doutor: Manter a massa muscular após os 50 anos depende deste hábito noturno Revista do Homem Saiba Mais Undo In fact, the entire Northeast is tourist-friendly," Aasu president Utpal Sarma said. Sarma noted that the advisory issued by the US may inadvertently perpetuate biases. He added, "This is totally unwarranted and needs sincere correction." While Manipur has faced ethnic unrest for over two years, the number of violent incidents has reportedly declined since the imposition of President's Rule in Feb. Responding to the advisory, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) convenor Khuraijam Athouba said, "We believe that it is a direct consequence of the Govt of India's reimposition of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime in Manipur with effect from Jan 1, 2024, in the wake of the ongoing Manipur crisis. This move has misinformed the global community about the actual situation in Manipur and the region, projecting a distorted picture of the security environment, whereas we firmly believe that it has nothing to do with the safety or security of visiting foreigners." Regarding the northeast, the travel advisory for northeastern states urged reconsideration of travel to this area "due to terrorism and violence". "Ethnic insurgent groups occasionally commit acts of violence in parts of the northeast," read the advisory, adding that these incidents include bombings of buses, trains, rail lines, and markets. The advisory, however, stated that there were no recent reports of violence in Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, or Tripura. US govt employees working in India require prior approval before visiting the states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as when visiting any areas outside of the capital cities of Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura. The advisory advised not to travel to Manipur due to the threat of violence and crime. "Ongoing ethnic-based conflict resulted in reports of extensive violence and community displacement," it added. While the advisory mentioned that attacks against Indian govt targets occur on a regular basis, it stated that US govt employees working in India require prior approval before visiting Manipur.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Officials detain US couple at Lengpui, deport them over permit breach
1 2 Aizawl: Officials of the intelligence agency under the ministry of home affairs (MHA) identified a married American couple at the Lengpui airport near Aizawl and detained them before deporting them to the US on Saturday, official sources said on Sunday. The American couple, identified as Walter Frederick Kuhn and Sahron Clodfelter Kuhn, landed at Lengpui airport without possessing a mandatory Protected Area Permit (PAP) on Friday. The intelligence officials, who had prior information about their arrival, detained them. While the officials said the Kuhns are not known to have any connection with rebel groups, some other intelligence agencies alleged that they entered Mizoram to meet founder leader of the Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA). The KNA is an insurgent group based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh, fighting for the autonomy of ethnic Mizos, mainly belonging to Bawm tribe, who live in the CHT. The KNA founder leader is Nathan Hlawncheu Bawm, who is reported to be in southern Mizoram's Lawngtlai district bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar. "We do not have any information about the couple's links with Nathan Hlawncheu Bawm or any other KNA leaders. We detained and deported them due to the fact that they entered the state where Protected Area Regime (PAR) is in place and for not obtaining PAP from the MHA, which is mandatory for foreigners visiting the state," an intelligence official told TOI. Nationals of some countries who intend to visit three northeastern states bordering Myanmar — Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland — are required to have PAP according to directions from the MHA. The MHA had re-imposed the PAR in Dec last year to monitor the movement of foreigners. This came after it was initially relaxed for a year in 2010 in the three states bordering Myanmar, and subsequently, the duration of the order was extended for five years. The latest order on the regime relaxation was issued on Dec 16, 2022 and was valid till Dec 2027 before it was revoked in Dec 2024. The relaxation has been withdrawn after 14 years by the MHA which wrote to the chief secretaries of the three states in Dec last year. Since then, foreigners visiting the three northeastern states again have to seek prior permission and special permits from the govt as used to be done before 2010, in accordance with the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nagaland govt to hold meet on FMR, PAP tomorrow
Dimapur: The Nagaland govt has convened a consultative meeting with civil society organisations in the state banquet hall, Kohima, on Wednesday to deliberate on pressing issues such as the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border, Protected Area Permit (PAP), maintenance of peace in the state, Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the Naga political issue . The meeting will also discuss Naga customary laws, the Nagaland Village and Tribal Area Council Act, Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland and road development with special reference to the construction of Foothill road and Showba-Pangsa road, the state home department said on Monday. CM Neiphiu Rio, deputy chief ministers TR Zeliang and Y Patton, Nagaland assembly speaker Sharingain Longkumer, all ministers, two Lok Sabha members of Parliament, all MLAs, chief secretary, along with other senior officials of the state govt will be present in the meeting. The govt has requested the civil society organisations to attend the meeting with three representatives each. Dimapur: The Nagaland govt has convened a consultative meeting with civil society organisations in the state banquet hall, Kohima, on Wednesday to deliberate on pressing issues such as the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border, Protected Area Permit (PAP), maintenance of peace in the state, Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the Naga political issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads View Deals Undo The meeting will also discuss Naga customary laws, the Nagaland Village and Tribal Area Council Act, Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland and road development with special reference to the construction of Foothill road and Showba-Pangsa road, the state home department said on Monday. CM Neiphiu Rio, deputy chief ministers TR Zeliang and Y Patton, Nagaland assembly speaker Sharingain Longkumer, all ministers, two Lok Sabha members of Parliament, all MLAs, chief secretary, along with other senior officials of the state govt will be present in the meeting. The govt has requested the civil society organisations to attend the meeting with three representatives each.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Manipur: Armed men torch homes, curfew imposed in Kamjong district
Guwahati: Unidentified armed men set fire to several houses in two villages in Manipur's Kamjong district on Wednesday. District administration has imposed indefinite curfew in two areas. The incident occurred when most residents of Gampal and Haiyang villages, in the district's Sahamphung sub-division, were out in their fields for cultivation. Kamjong District Magistrate Rangnamei Rang Peter imposed an indefinite curfew in both the villages from 2pm. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo In an order, the DM also prohibited the movement of any persons outside their residences under sub-section 1 of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). In the official order, Peter said, "Such disturbances could lead to a serious breach of peace, endanger public tranquillity and pose risks to human lives and properties." Live Events Nagaland A crucial Consultative Meeting would be held on April 30 to discuss the Free Movement Regime (FMR) across the India-Myanmar border and Protected Area Permit (PAP) in Nagaland. The Nagaland Home Department has called the meeting, which will be attended by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, two Deputy Chief Ministers T.R. Zeliang and Yanthungo Patton, Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, the Deputy Speaker, all the Ministers, and Members of Parliament. An official of the Home Department said that all the MLAs, Advisors, the Chief Secretary, along with other senior officials of the state government and leaders of 27 other civil society organisations, would be present in the meeting. The day-long meeting would also discuss the maintenance of peace in Nagaland in the wake of recent political developments, and the enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), the official said. An all-party delegation led by Chief Minister Rio would soon meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the decades-old Naga political issue and concerns about the border fencing and FMR across the India-Myanmar border. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) last year announced that the FMR, which allows people residing along the India-Myanmar border to travel 16 km into each other's territory without a visa, would be scrapped soon. The Nagaland Assembly on March 7 unanimously decided that an all-party delegation would meet the union home minister to explain to him the 'sentiment and resentment of the Naga people' against the MHA's decision to cancel the FMR between India and Myanmar.
Hans India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Nagaland: Consultative meet to discuss FMR, Protected Area Permit
Kohima: A crucial Consultative Meeting would be held on April 30 to discuss the Free Movement Regime (FMR) across the India-Myanmar border and Protected Area Permit (PAP) in Nagaland, among other issues, officials said here on Wednesday. The Nagaland Home Department has called the meeting, which will be attended by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, two Deputy Chief Ministers T.R. Zeliang and Yanthungo Patton, Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, the Deputy Speaker, all the Ministers, and Members of Parliament. An official of the Home Department said that all the MLAs, Advisors, the Chief Secretary, along with other senior officials of the state government and leaders of 27 other civil society organisations, would be present in the meeting. The day-long meeting would also discuss the maintenance of peace in Nagaland in the wake of recent political developments, and the enforcement of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), the official said. Meanwhile, an all-party delegation led by Chief Minister Rio would soon meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the decades-old Naga political issue and concerns about the border fencing and FMR across the India-Myanmar border. A senior Nagaland minister earlier said that in the previous Assembly session (March 3 to 8), the Chief Minister had suggested that an all-party delegation would meet the Union Home Minister to apprise him about the contentious Naga political issues, which always dominate politics in the state. He said that besides the Naga political issue, FMR, PAP, ILP and border fencing along the India-Myanmar border are the other vital issues to be discussed with the Union Home Minister. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) last year announced that the FMR, which allows people residing along the India-Myanmar border to travel 16 km into each other's territory without a visa, would be scrapped soon. Instead, the MHA decided to replace the FMR to adopt a new scheme to issue a pass to the border residents of both India and Myanmar living within 10 km on either side of the frontier to regulate cross-border movements. The Nagaland Assembly on March 7 unanimously decided that an all-party delegation would meet the Union Home Minister to explain to him the 'sentiment and resentment of the Naga people' against the MHA's decision to cancel the FMR between India and Myanmar. Participating in the discussion on the issue, the Chief Minister had told the house that the border movement restriction would affect the long-standing historical, ethnic, social, cultural, traditional and economic ties of Nagas living on both sides of the India-Myanmar border. The Nagaland and Mizoram governments and a large number of political parties and civil societies in the two northeastern states have been opposing both border fencing and the scrapping of the FMR. Four northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram -- share a 1,643-km unfenced border with Myanmar. The MHA had earlier decided to erect fencing on the entire porous border, known for the smuggling of arms, ammunition, narcotics and various other contrabands, at a cost of Rs 31,000 crore.
