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All persons who require Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter Manipur, including tourists and visitors, are requested to postpone and not to visit the State till the threat of spread of pandemic COVID-19 recedes to a reasonable level.

This was stated in an official notification of the state Home department.

ILP system, the long standing demand to save the indigenous people from infiltrators, was introduced in Manipur from January 1 this year.

No permit except in very special cases will be issued by any other competent authority after March 20, said special secretary (Home) H Gyan Prakash.

The issue of ILP from the State Government offices outside the state is also under suspension with effect from March 18, the notification stated.

All citizens of the State are also requested to curtail visits outside the State, to only absolutely unavoidable ones as the possibility to stop all entries to the state or quarantining everyone coming from outside the state cannot be ruled out if the situation worsens in other states.

The government notification was issued after the state chief minister N Biren Singh made an announcement to suspend issue of ILP on the sidelines of inspecting old airfield at Koirengei in Imphal East district on March 17.

The issue of ILP through the Manipur Bhavans located outside the State besides other concerned offices in the State will be suspended from March 18 to April 15 next in view of the COVID-19.

The precautionary measures against coronavirus have been taken at all entry and exit points, including the Imphal International Airport, since January 18 prior to the advisory issued by the Union Health Ministry on January 22.

More than 1.50 lakh persons including air passengers have been screened at entry points including Moreh, Behiang, Sinzawl, Tusom, Kamjong, Mao Gate, Jiribam and the Imphal airport, but there is no confirmed case of COVID-19 in the State.

It may be mentioned that the union home minister Amit Shah’s proposed visit to Manipur on March 15 has been postponed in view of the Government’s advisory to avoid mass gathering due to the coronavirus threat.

The State Government has also restricted movement of people across the international border with Myanmar.