Imphal: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh said “immensely grateful to Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah for their commitment to securing our borders”.

On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announcing the scrapping of FMR in his post on ‘X’ said that “It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji's resolve to secure our borders, 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. Since the Ministry of External Affairs is currently in the process of scrapping it, MHA has recommended the immediate suspension of the FMR.”

After the post by HM Shah, Manipur Chief Minister Biren took to Facebook and posted, “Immensely grateful to Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Hon’ble HM Shri Amit Shah Ji for their commitment to securing our borders. The decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar, as recommended by the Minister of Home Affairs, India, is crucial for our internal security and the demographic integrity of our North Eastern States”.

He also said that this is yet another historic decision in curbing illegal immigration and strengthening our internal security after the recent announcement to fence the 1643 Km Indo-Myanmar border by the Government of India.

Under the FMR, people of India and Myanmar can enter 16 kilometres inside the boundary of both the countries freely.

On the other hand, Biren also chaired a meeting that deliberated on the measures and renewed strategies to tackle illegal poppy cultivation in Manipur at CM Secretariat.

The meeting was joined by the Chief Secretary, Manipur Police Department, NCB, NAB, Forest Department, MARSAC and Forensic Science.

The state government's unwavering commitment to completely uproot the drug menace and curb poppy plantation remains firm.