Aizawl : Senior civil and police officials from Mizoram’s southern border districts convened a high-level virtual meeting on Thursday to deliberate on regulating cross-border trade and strengthening enforcement of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border amid rising security concerns.

According to an official statement, top district administration officials from Lawngtlai district and Siaha district – both of which share an international boundary with Myanmar – participated in the consultation and resolved to intensify enforcement measures in vulnerable border areas.

The district magistrates of the two adjoining districts underscored the need for stricter implementation of the FMR and other relevant laws to maintain law and order. The Free Movement Regime permits limited cross-border movement for residents living along the frontier, but authorities have expressed concerns over its misuse in recent months.

During the deliberations, officials agreed to review the existing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing border movement and trade. A comprehensive study of the current framework will be undertaken with the aim of drafting a joint SOP to be implemented uniformly by both district administrations.

The proposed joint framework will subsequently be submitted to the Mizoram government for approval.

Officials also decided to conduct surprise inspections to detect illegal or undocumented immigrants in both districts. The meeting emphasised close coordination between civil authorities and law enforcement agencies to ensure that cross-border trade and movement remain within the legal framework.

The Indo-Myanmar border in Mizoram spans several remote and sensitive stretches, including areas near Champhai district, and has witnessed heightened vigilance in recent years owing to regional instability.

Participants resolved to convene another joint consultation at the earliest to assess progress and review the effectiveness of the enhanced enforcement measures.