IMPHAL, Nov 14 (NNN): Manipur government has extended the temporary suspension of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border for another three months.
An order issued by Peter Salam, deputy secretary (home) of government of Manipur on November 11 said that FMR along Indo-Myanmar border is hereby suspended for a period of three months with effect from November 15, 2022 or till such time the Indo-Myanmar border gates are formally opened by both sides for movement of people.
It said, “It is felt that the FMR may lead to further increase in the number of illegal entry of Myanmar nationals into India in view of the current law and order situation in Myanmar”.
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The India–Myanmar border has a Free Movement Regime (FMR) which allows tribes living along the border to travel 16 km (9.9 mi) across either side of the border without visa restrictions.[19] There are over 250 villages with over 300,000 people living within 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of the border who frequently cross the border through 150 small and large formal and informal border crossings.
India and Myanmar have activated the FMR for people residing in villages near their 1,643 km-long international border since 2018.
However, since the spread of Covid-19, both countries suspended the regime by early part of 2020.
At the latest, the Home department ordered the temporary suspension of the FMR for a period of two months (60 days) with effect from September 15, 2022.
The temporary suspension is due to expire on November 15.
The latest order of the suspension of the FMR directed district magistrates bordering Myanmar to strictly enforce the order while stating that the order is being issued with the approval of competent authority.
