India to Fence Entire 1,643 Km India-Myanmar Border with Rs 31,000 Crore Project Amid Manipur Violence

India is embarking on an ambitious project to completely fence the entire 1,643 km porous border it shares with Myanmar. This massive undertaking, estimated to cost Rs 31,000 crore, is driven by the need to curb cross-border smuggling and, more urgently, to address the underlying security concerns fueling the ongoing violence in Manipur. The India-Myanmar border, which spans four northeastern states—Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh—has long been a hotspot for illegal activities, including the trafficking of arms, ammunition, drugs, and human trafficking. 

The Role of the India-Myanmar Border in Manipur's Crisis

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in recent statements, pinpointed the porous nature of the India-Myanmar border as a critical factor in the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023. According to Shah, the smuggling of arms and ammunition from Myanmar into India has exacerbated tensions between the local Kuki and Meitei communities, contributing to the region's unrest. In light of this, Shah announced that the first 30 kilometers of the border fencing had already been completed. Additional fencing has also been constructed near Moreh, Manipur's border town, with 21 km of work currently underway in other strategic locations across the state.

The project has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, which has given the green light to not just the fencing but also the construction of roads along the India-Myanmar border to enhance patrolling and surveillance. The new fencing, coupled with modern technology, aims to better secure the border and reduce illegal infiltration and smuggling, which have long plagued the northeastern states.

Scrapping of the Free Movement Regime

In a significant policy shift, the Indian government recently scrapped the Free Movement Regime (FMR) that had been in place along the India-Myanmar border. This regime, which allowed people living near the border to cross into each other’s territories without documentation for up to 16 kilometers, was initially established in 2018 under India’s Act East Policy to facilitate cross-border ties. However, this system was increasingly seen as a loophole for illegal arms and narcotics smuggling, thus contributing to the volatile situation in Manipur.

With the FMR gone, stricter monitoring of cross-border movement is expected, further bolstering India’s efforts to stabilize the region. However, local communities who relied on this regime for daily interactions, trade, and familial visits will feel the impact, making the implementation of the new border policies delicate.

A Response to Growing Violence in Manipur

The violence in Manipur, which began in May 2023 after a tribal solidarity march by the Kuki community, has claimed over 220 lives, including those of civilians and security personnel. The Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status led to tensions with the Kuki people, whose stronghold lies in the hill districts of the state. The government’s approach to fencing the border comes as part of a larger strategy to restore peace in the region by clamping down on illegal arms inflows and better controlling the movement of people across the India-Myanmar frontier.

Home Minister Amit Shah has been leading efforts to stabilize the situation in Manipur, and several measures have been implemented to ease the hardships faced by the local population. For instance, 25 mobile vans have been introduced to deliver essential goods at fair prices across all districts of the state. Additionally, the Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar (KPKB) initiative has expanded with the opening of 16 new police canteens, aimed at providing affordable commodities to the people in Manipur, in both valley and hilly districts.

The Path Forward

As India proceeds with this monumental fencing project, the broader goal is to secure its northeastern frontier and curb the flow of arms, drugs, and insurgents that have destabilized the region. This effort to create a fortified, monitored border will be crucial not only for resolving the current conflict in Manipur but also for long-term security in the Northeast, which has historically been plagued by insurgencies and smuggling operations linked to its porous borders with Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

Though the complete fencing of the India-Myanmar border is a long-term endeavor, the progress made so far is a testament to India’s commitment to resolving the security challenges in the region. As work continues on the remaining 1,600 kilometers, the project represents a new chapter in India’s efforts to bring stability to one of its most sensitive regions.