India to erect fence along Myanmar border to end free entry into India

New Delhi: As a considerable number of Myanmar soldiers are now feeling into India, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced the decision to secure the border with Myanmar by erecting a fence. Shah emphasized the need to protect India’s border with Myanmar in a manner similar to the border with Bangladesh. Addressing the passing out parade of Assam Police commandos, he disclosed that the recent influx of around 600 Myanmar Army soldiers into India, particularly in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district, prompted this action. These soldiers fled to India after their camps were seized by the Arakan Army (AA) militants.

The fencing of the Myanmar border is set to bring an end to the Free Movement Regime (FMR) that has been in place between the two countries since the 1970s. The FMR was initially established due to familial and ethnic ties among the people residing along the India-Myanmar border. With the implementation of border fencing, individuals in this region will be required to obtain visas for cross-border movements, marking a significant shift in the existing inter-country mobility arrangements.