The Centre has suspended Free Movement Regime along the Myanmar border with immediate effect. This would mean people living in border areas, who could cross over to India, will require visas.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X.

“Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, MHA has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR,” he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Shah announced plans to fence the entire 1,643-kilometre stretch of its border with Myanmar, signalling a potential end to the FMR that allowed border residents to travel 16 kilometres into each other’s territory without formal documentation.