Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma expresses concerns over a rise in smuggling. He points to the free movement regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar as one of the factors. The FMR began as a system to enable kindred tribes to keep in touch with their people in the immediate boundary areas. In 1968, India tightened the FMR with a new permit system, to be issued by either side for their citizens for temporary entry. The new rules further restricted movements of people from 16 km to 10 km, on either side. The rules were last updated in December 2024 amid the Meitei-Kuki ethnic tensions in Manipur. The biometric details of Myanmar nationals crossing over to India using border passes are captured by Assam Rifles’ representatives during entry and exit, the new rules say. In 2018, India and. Myanmar signed the Agreement on Land Border Crossing, which formalised the F MR. In 2004, India limited the F MRI distance to 16 km from 40 km.