Union Home Minister Amit Shah shared in his social media page that India has decided to fence India’s border with Myanmar. Also the Indian government decided to reconsider the Free Regime Moment (FMG) and it is expected to end soon.
India shares its border with Myanmar for 1,643km along the Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Already a 10 km long fence was made in the Moreh area of Manipur border. Now, the Indian government decides to fence the entire border of India – Myanmar like India’s border with Bangladesh. A patrol line is also being set up to facilitate surveillance across the border.
Violence in Myanmar
On 21 February, 2021, the military seized power in Myanmar. Since then there have been widespread incidents of violence demanding the restoration of democracy throughout Myanmar. Clashes between armed militant groups and the Myanmar Army have been ongoing since October last year in Rakhine State and other parts of the country.
Tensions have escalated in Myanmar’s major cities and border areas with India. This has increased the concern about the security threat in the Indian border areas in the states of Mizoram and Manipur.
India last week called for an end to all violence in Myanmar and a return to inclusive federal democracy. On February 1, India’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ranthir Jaiswal said in a press conference, “We are very concerned about the worsening situation in Myanmar. It affects us directly. As a neighbour and ally of Myanmar, India urges Myanmar to abandon all violence and return to an inclusive federal democracy.”
India decided to fence its border
But Myanmar is not ready to give up the violence. So, the External Affairs Ministry of India has advised its citizens to vacate the Rakhine region of Myanmar as early as possible. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on 6 February that India is going to fence the border with Myanmar and decided to end the Free Moment Regime, which allows the people living in the India-Myanmar border to move freely up to 16 km in both countries without Visa.
