Rohingya Muslims have been fleeing Myanmar after violence broke out recently (Reuters)
The Home Ministry is planning to regulate 'free movement' of people along the border with Myanmar in Mizoram in the north-east. The 'free movement regime', which allows Mizo people living in Myanmar to enter Mizoram up to 16 km, has been misused by terrorists and smugglers, a senior state government official said.
India shares a 404-km-long border with Myanmar in Mizoram.
"The MHA (Home Ministry) expressed concern over the abuse of the FMR (free movement regime) as insurgents of both the Indian and Myanmar sides used to freely move on the porous border areas while smugglers, drug-traffickers and gun-runners were also using the same routes," Additional Secretary for Home Lalbiakzama said.
The Home Ministry has asked the Mizoram government to give a report on the situation in border areas, Mr Lalbiakzama said, adding the state has already asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh to tighten the free movement rules when he visited the state.
On another matter, the Mizoram home department said not a single Rohingya Muslim has entered Mizoram. Some 170 Arakanese civilians who have taken shelter at some villages in Lawngtlai district of Mizoram have gone back, the home department said.