Following the February 1, 2021 military coup in Myanmar, around 300 Myanmarese nationals, including many policemen, have crossed into India and sought refuge. Later India sealed all entry points along the border with the southeast Asian neighbour.
- Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging intervention so that “political refugees” from Myanmar are given asylum and food and shelter in the country.
- Myanmar area bordering Mizoram is inhibited by Chin communities, who are ethnically close to Mizo community.
- India and Myanmar have an arrangement called Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allows locals on both sides to go upto 16 km across the other side and stay up to 14 days.
- While India allows Myanmarese nationals to stay for 72 hours without visa, Myanmar allows stay only up to 24 hours
- India’s four states — Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh share border with Myanmar.
