The government on Thursday suspended the Free Movement Regime between India and Myanmar – an arrangement that allows people from either nation to enter up to 16km without travel documents – Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on X (formerly Twitter)
“It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “resolve to secure our borders,” Mr Shah posted, adding, “Ministry of Home Affairs has decided Free Movement Regime (will) be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country, and to maintain demographic structure of north-eastern states.”
The decision comes two days after Mr Shah said India will fence the entire 1,643-km border with Myanmar and build a patrolling track next to the barrier.
The announcement comes amid the ethnic violence in Manipur between the hill-majority Kuki-Zo tribes, who share ethnic ties with communities in Myanmar’s Chin State, and the valley-majority Meiteis.
