In a strategic move to address Maoist extremism and bolster border security, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Saturday that India will be erecting a fence along its entire 1,643km border with Myanmar. This decision marks the end of the free movement regime that allowed individuals in border areas to travel up to 16km into the neighboring country without a visa.
Shah, speaking at the graduation parade of 2,551 commandos of Assam Police in Guwahati, emphasized that the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to replicate the successful border-fencing approach implemented along the Bangladesh border. The four Indian states of Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh share this extensive border with Myanmar.
“Our government is re-examining the free movement regime provision that exists with Myanmar, and now this facility, which allows free movement, will be stopped,” Shah declared.
The move has sparked varied responses, with Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma expressing opposition but acknowledging the state’s limited authority to impede the central government’s plan. Mizoram, with its shared ethnic, social, and cultural ties with Myanmar’s Chins, has witnessed an influx of refugees since the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021. The Mizoram government has defied directives from the Centre to repatriate the refugees, highlighting the complex socio-political dynamics in the region.
Shah, in his address, highlighted significant improvements in India’s internal security over the past decade. He noted a 73% decrease in incidents of violence in northeastern states, Jammu & Kashmir, and Naxal-affected areas during this period. The home minister commended Assam’s progress in law and order, attributing positive changes to the government’s efforts.
Acknowledging the challenges posed by drug trafficking, Shah praised the Assam Police and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s administration for their actions against the illicit trade. He also lauded the creation of 100,000 jobs in Assam, a promise fulfilled from the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 2021 assembly polls manifesto.
Shah, while launching a book on historical figure Lachit Barphukan, reflected on the Battle of Saraighat in 1671, stating that Assam would have become part of Bangladesh if Lachit’s army had not defeated the Mughals. The home minister participated in various events during his three-day tour of Meghalaya and Assam, emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing security challenges and promoting development in the region.
Sources By Agencies