India to Fence Myanmar Border to Check Free Movement into India

New Delhi: While large numbers of Myanmar soldiers have started to flee into India, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that India would fence the border along Myanmar to check free movement into India.

Speaking at the passing out parade of Assam Police commandos, the Union Home Minister said, “India’s border with Myanmar to be protected like border with Bangladesh.” During the last three months, around 600 Myanmar Army soldiers have crossed into India to take refuge in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district. They fled to India when their camps were captured by the Arakan Army (AA) militants.

The fencing of the Myanmar border will end the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between the two countries. The FMR was brought in the 1970s as people living along the India-Myanmar border have familial and ethnic ties. With border fencing, the people in this region will need visas to make inter-country movements.

On Saturday, the Mizoram government requested the Centre to quickly send back the Myanmar soldiers to their country.

Myanmar’s Army, which is in power since the 2021 coup is now facing a coordinated offensive by three ethnic minority forces. The rebels have captured some towns and military posts, forcing the Myanmar soldiers to flee into India.