Union Home Minister Amit Shah last month announced plans to fence the 1,643 km India-Myanmar border. Consequently, the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement, allowing residents within 16 km of the border to move freely without visas, is set for reconsideration.The India-Myanmar border, delineated by the British in 1826 without local consent, separates people of shared ethnicity and culture. The Free Movement Regime (FMR), initiated in 2018 under the Act East policy, aimed to strengthen cross-border ties, foster trade, and facilitate local exchanges. However, the FMR faces scrutiny due to issues like illegal migration, implicated in the Manipur conflict. The unfenced, challenging-to-monitor border has inadvertently contributed to problems such as drug trafficking. The military coup in Myanmar has exacerbated the situation, leading to a surge in Myanmarese tribals seeking refuge in India, particularly in Manipur and Mizoram.The trigger for this review was a conflict in Manipur in 2023, where the influx of Myanmar nationals became a contentious issue, leading to calls for ending the FMR. The civil war in Myanmar has led to an increase in refugees seeking shelter in India, with Manipur recording a significant number in 2022 and 2023. Amidst these developments, the Centre's decision to fence the border and reconsider the FMR is met with opposition from various quarters, raising concerns about potential conflicts.Follow #NEWay on ABP Live for more news and latest updates from Northeast India.