The Centre today set up an expert committee to examine the rules which allow free movement of Indian and Myanmarese citizens within 16 kms of the border, but are exploited by militants for smuggling arms, drugs, and fake Indian currency.
The decision has been taken at the meeting of chief ministers of the Northeastern states which share a porous border with Myanmar.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh decided to constitute a committee, headed by Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, which will examine the present rules and regulations adopted by the border states for implementation of free movement regime along this border.
India's 1,643-km border with Myanmar touches four states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. It is unique in many ways as it has a visa-free movement regime for people living within 16 kms on either side of the border.
They can stay up to 72 hours with effective and valid permits issued by the designated authorities on either side.
This regime has been in place keeping in view the traditional social relations among the border people. It helps genuine people living in close proximity of the border.
"However, it is misused by militants and criminals who smuggle weapons, narcotics, contraband goods and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN)," the home minister said.
With fast improving security situation in this region, militants are denied hideouts here and some of them have relocated themselves across the border.
"Taking advantage of the free-movement regime, occasionally they enter India, commit crimes and escape to their relatively safer hideouts," Singh said.
The committee will give its report for uniform and effective implementation of free movement regime within three months.
It will prepare standard operating procedures common for all the four states so that militants, criminals and contraband are filtered at the border without causing inconvenience to genuine people.
The international border with Myanmar is considered to be porous with cross-border movement of insurgents and smuggling of arms and ammunition common.
"Our government is committed to fast tracking of development in the northeastern region. Work on road and rail network extension is going on. We want to extend these networks to border areas," Singh earlier said in his opening remarks.
He said the region is immensely rich in human and natural resources and its ethnic and linguistic diversities enrich India's cultural heritage.
The meeting was convened to discuss the issues of Indo- Myanmar border and attended by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju besides Pema Khandu, N Biren Singh and Lal Thanhawla, the chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram, respectively, and Nagaland Home Minister Yanthungo Patton.
This is for the first time that such a meeting has been called to discuss issues concerning the Myanmar border with active participation of the state governments.
The chief secretaries, directors general of police (DGPs) of the states, director general of the Assam Rifles and senior officials from the central ministries concerned were also present at the meeting.
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