Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Tuesday that India has opted to fence the entire 1,643-kilometer-long India-Myanmar border, potentially bringing an end to the Free Movement Regime (FMR) that currently allows people residing near the border to move 16 kilometers into each other's territory without documentation.
In a post on X, Shah said the Modi government's commitment to building impenetrable borders, outlining plans to construct a fence along the entire Indo-Myanmar border and pave a patrol track for enhanced surveillance.
"It has decided to construct a fence along the entire 1643-kilometer-long Indo-Myanmar border. To facilitate better surveillance, a patrol track along the border will also be paved," he said.
Shah further highlighted that a 10-kilometer stretch in Moreh, Manipur, has already been fenced, with two pilot projects utilizing a hybrid surveillance system underway to fence 1 kilometer each in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. Additionally, the approval of fence works covering approximately 20 kilometers in Manipur signals imminent commencement of the project.
"They will fence a stretch of 1 km each in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. Additionally, fence works covering approx 20 km in Manipur have also been approved, and the work will start soon,"
The India-Myanmar border traverses Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, implementing FMR in 2018 as part of India's Act East policy.
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The decision to fence the border responds to persistent demands from Imphal Valley-based Meitei groups, alleging that tribal militants frequently cross into India through the porous border and that narcotics smuggling takes advantage of the unfenced international border.
Assam, Arunachal CMs Laud Decision:
The chief ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh welcomed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement on Tuesday that the Modi government would fence the Indo-Myanmar border to improve surveillance and ensure a patrol track along the border. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed confidence in the decision, claiming that fencing would reduce incidents of cross-border insurgency and infiltration through improved surveillance.
Taking to X, CM Himanta stated, "This is a commendable and bold decision which will have a huge stabilising impact on the entire North Eastern region. State-of-the-art fencing shall also minimise incidents of cross border insurgency and infiltration through better surveillance. My gratitude to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and Hon'ble Home Minister Shri @amitshah ji for this great effort to secure our borders."
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for fencing the borders with Myanmar, describing the decision as a great move to make borders foolproof.
"A great step in the right direction towards making our borders foolproof. Gratitude to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and Hon'ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji for fencing our border with Myanmar. A state-of-the-art surveillance system will monitor the movements of unscrupulous elements," CM Khandu stated on X.