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The Indian Union Home Ministry has introduced new protocols regulating the movement of people within 10 kilometers on either side of the India-Myanmar border, months after suspending the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
This move comes after the scrapping of FMR, aimed at addressing internal security and demographic concerns in Northeastern States.
Free Movement Regime (FMR)
FMR, established in 1968, allowed people to move freely within a 40 km range on both sides of the India-Myanmar border.
This was reduced to 16 km in 2004. And now to 10km
According to the new guidelines, a resident crossing the border from India to Myanmar will be given a “border pass” by the Assam Rifles for stay up to seven days in the neighbouring country.
The Assam Rifles is the primary border guarding force along the 1,643-km-long border with Myanmar along the States of Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km).
The FMR was implemented in 2018 as part of the Central government’s Act East policy.
FMR helps locals get more culturally assimilated with trans-border villages through weddings, celebrating common festivals together, and trans-border trade.
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