Since 22 June, Indian soldiers have increased security checks in Mizoram’s Lunglei Town just across the border from Lai Lin Pi Town in Matupi Township in Myanmar.
On the Myanmar side of the border, the junta is reinforcing its forces that are stationed near the Lunglei Stream that marks the border between Mizoram State in India and Chin State in Myanmar.
A local from Matupi Township said: “There is a Military Council base camp and a Myanmar police outpost in Lai Lin Pi Town. Currently, the Military Council is reinforcing their forces in Lai Lin Pi and I guess the junta wants to close the border gate.”
Locals suggested that the Indian Border Guard Force has tightened security due to weapons, illicit drugs and illegal goods being frequently seized at the border crossing.
Another local from Matupi Township said: “Previously, the Indian authorizes from Mizoram State have allowed people seeking medical treatment and internally displaced people (IDPs) from Matupi Township freely pass the border gate without being inspected. But now, it can be difficult for IDPs to travel due to the security checks and strict inspections by the Indian army.”
The India–Myanmar border has a Free Movement Regime (FMR) which allows tribes living along the border to travel 16 km (9.9 mi) either side of the border without visa restrictions. There are over 250 villages with over 300,000 people living within 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of the border who can frequently cross the border through 150 formal and informal border crossings.
