Mokokchung, 24 September (MTNews): Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, has urged the Union Home Ministry to cancel the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement with Myanmar. Under the FMR, individuals residing in close proximity to the India-Myanmar border can traverse up to 16 kilometers into each other’s territory without the need for documentation.
Speaking to the media in Imphal, Singh expressed concerns regarding the border’s security. He stated, “Our government has requested the Union Home Ministry to cancel the free movement regime. Security forces have not properly guarded the border; they should be deployed at the zero point. Instead, they were found guarding the border 14-15 kilometers inside Indian territory.”
The Chief Minister emphasized that the influx of “illegal immigrants” continues to be a challenge and stressed the necessity for a comprehensive fence along the India-Myanmar border. He mentioned that the Union Home Ministry has initiated efforts to fence 60 kilometers of the international border in Manipur.
He underscored the state’s priorities, including addressing the influx of illegal immigrants, initiating welfare measures for internally displaced individuals, and combating extensive poppy cultivation.
The ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which began on 3 May during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March,’ has resulted in over 175 casualties and hundreds of injuries. The march was organized in protest against the demand for Scheduled Tribe status by the majority Meitei community.