Morung Express News
Kohima | September 2
There is no report of any active fencing work along the 215 km stretch of the Nagaland-Myanmar border, Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton, who is in-charge of Home and Border Affairs, informed the Nagaland Legislative Assembly today.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had recently conveyed the reimposition of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) in Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland with effect from December 17, 2024. The move was reportedly due to growing security concerns in the border areas of the three states.
While the PAP has been reinstated, the State Government has consistently maintained that physical fencing along the border may not be pursued, citing genuine concerns and the unique demographic and cultural realities of Nagaland. This position has been communicated to the MHA on multiple occasions.
The Deputy CM’s statement follows a starred question by MLA Achumbemo Kikon seeking clarity on the status of the PAP and the proposed border fencing. No work has been reported so far along the designated border stretch.
Meanwhile, joining the discussion of the issue, Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday told the Assembly that the state government has opposed the imposition of PAP and scrapping of FMR and appealing to the Centre to exempt the state in view of its unique socio-cultural realities.
A foreigner is required to obtain a PAP to visit certain areas of the country including the North-East region.
He noted that the state has been peaceful, law and order is under control, and the restrictions disrupt the social and cultural ties of Naga tribes divided across the border.
The FMR limit was reduced from 16 km to 10 km, with movement regulated by Assam Rifles and state agencies
Rio added that the Nagaland cabinet had unanimously opposed both PAP and FMR in January 2025 and has submitted multiple representations to the Union Home Ministry, emphasizing that Nagaland has not faced refugee influxes and continues to monitor foreign visitors through mandatory reporting.
