It is to ensure the internal security of the country: Shah

Have to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States: Amit Shah

FMR allowed passage for citizens on both sides of the border for up to 16 KMs

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on February 8th that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to put an end to the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar. “It is Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s resolve to secure our borders. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar. Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, MHA has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR,” he stated on the microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter). 

FMR allowed passage for citizens on both sides of the border for up to 16 Kilometres without the necessity to provide any documents in support. Two days prior to the announcement, the decision to fence the 1643 KM-long border shared by the two countries was taken. The border passes through the states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. “To facilitate better surveillance, a patrol track along the border will also be paved,” Shah had mentioned. The Meitei and Kuki community reacted in different ways to this update.

It is Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji’s resolve to secure our borders.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 8, 2024