Be extra vigilant in curbing Myanmar influx, MHA asks Assam Rifles
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 7
Keeping in view the military regime in Myanmar, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the Assam Rifles to prevent nationals of that country from crossing over to Indian side without valid travel document through the Free Movement Regime (FMR) borders, which allow local inhabitants to travel 16 km across either side without visa restrictions.
The Assam Rifles, which guards the India-Myanmar border in the northeast, has been asked to push back Myanmar nationals if they were found attempting to cross over, sources in the government said.
There are over 250 villages with over 3,00,000 people living within 10 km of the borders, who frequently cross through 150 small and large formal and informal crossings points.
Incidentally, the MHA order to Assam Rifles has come after Myanmar officially asked for immediate return of eight policemen of that country, who had crossed over and sought shelter in Mizoram.
Intelligence officials, however, said the new military regime in Myanmar appeared to be unaware of the number of people, who have fled the country and had confirmed only about eight policemen, whose repatriation it had sought.
Following the February 1 coup, India pitched for an “orderly democratic transition” but stopped short of direct criticism of the military-dominated State Administrative Council in Myanmar.
In the past, large-scale migration of people from Myanmar to India was triggered following clashes between the Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims amid similar political turbulence in that country.
Large scale migration from Myanmar could spell trouble for the security agencies in containing the fallout on the local law and order situation.
