Imphal : The Free Movement Regime (FMR) between Manipur (India) with Myanmar which allows people on either side to travel up to 16 km inside the other country without a visa is suspended at the moment. The Central government has been requested to permanently close the agreement in Manipur.

This was stated by the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh while talking to newsmen at his office, in Imphal on Saturday. The CM was speaking against the backdrop of the illegal migration of tribal Kuki-Chin peoples into (Manipur) India from Myanmar which is one of the key issues in the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur.

India shares a 1643 km long border with Myanmar and Manipur alone shares around 398 km of the porous border with Myanmar to which 6 km of the Manipur-Myanmar border is fenced so far.

India and Myanmar signed a border trade agreement in 1994 and have two operational border trade points Moreh in Manipur-Tamu (Myanmar and Zowkhatar–Rhi. The border trade at Moreh has been closed since 2022 March owing to various reasons.

Further explaining the importance of border fencing to check the influx of illegal immigrants, the Chief Minister said work for fencing along the international boundary by identifying some vulnerable stretches has been awarded to the Border Road Organisation.

N. Biren Singh stated that the government has resolved to continue the functioning of the cabinet sub-committee which was formed with Minister Letpao Haokip as the chairmen to check and identify illegal immigrants coming from outside, with an objective to protect and safeguard the future generation of the indigenous people. Over 2700 Myanmar nationals are taking refuge at different detention centers in Manipur.

As biometric recording is necessary as preliminary to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the State government has urged the Centre to extend the time for the Biometric process by a year in the State, he said adding that it is the first priority.