As many as 22 out of 43 designated crossing points along the India-Myanmar border under the revised Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement have begun operations, a senior government official said on Thursday, according to The Hindu.
The newly functional border gates include 10 in Manipur, five each in Mizoram and Nagaland, and two in Arunachal Pradesh. These gates regulate the movement of people living within a 10-km radius of the India-Myanmar border as per the revised FMR guidelines.
The Union Home Ministry (MHA) finalized new QR code-enabled passes on December 6 to monitor and regulate border crossings. However, despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement that the FMR would be scrapped, no formal suspension orders have been issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), as reported by The Hindu on December 25.
The revised guidelines approved 43 crossing points, and Assam Rifles has been entrusted with monitoring and overseeing the movement of people from Myanmar. The decision comes at a time when Myanmar remains embroiled in intensified armed conflict between ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and the ruling military junta.
The Free Movement Regime (FMR) was first introduced in 1968 due to ethnic and familial ties between communities living on both sides of the largely unfenced northeast border. Initially, the territorial limit for free movement was 40 km, which was reduced to 16 km in 2004. Additional regulations were enforced in 2016, and the limit was further reduced to 10 km, the official stated.
The arrangement allows border residents to visit relatives and families without requiring a visa or passport. “The FMR is being regulated keeping in mind the sensitivities of the border population. People are being allowed with a border pass, and their biometrics are being recorded. We upload the details and biometrics on a centralized portal and check if the person is on a negative list or not,” the official was quoted by The Hindu.
Assam Rifles has been designated as the issuing authority for border passes and conducts the first layer of security verification for individuals entering India from Myanmar. Meanwhile, State police in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur will conduct security checks at the place of stay of Myanmar residents. The border pass will be valid for up to seven days.
The remaining 21 border checkpoints along the 1,643-km India-Myanmar border are expected to become functional in a second phase.
The revised guidelines approved 43 crossing points, and Assam Rifles has been tasked with monitoring and overseeing movement from Myanmar. The decision comes as Myanmar remains embroiled in intensified armed conflict between ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and the ruling military junta.
Following the Myanmar military coup on February 1, 2021, more than 40,000 refugees from the Chin ethnic group have sought shelter in Mizoram and Manipur, further complicating border management issues. (With inputs from The Hindu)