India-Myanmar border

Imphal, Aug. 11: United Committee Manipur today demanded an immediate halt to the border fence construction by Assam Rifles in the Moreh sector of the Indo-Myanmar border.

The committee, a conglomerate of citizens’ bodies, is campaigning to safeguard Manipur’s territorial boundary.

A team of committee members inspected the border fence in Chandel district a few days ago.

The Assam Rifles, through the Border Roads Task Force, has been constructing a 10km barbed wire border fence for security reasons.

The fence aims at stopping militants from sneaking in from Myanmar to carry out subversive activities in Manipur and to check the movement of arms and other illegal items across the border.

“The fence has divided many villages, with houses left out on the other side. This has caused apprehensions that Manipur’s land will go to Myanmar. Therefore, it should stop,” Y. Nabachandra, the president of the committee, said today.

Nabachandra said the construction should resume only after obtaining the consent of the affected villagers and people of the state.

The committee will organise a seminar this month on the ramifications of the border fence construction. It will also point out the exact areas where the fence should be put up.

He said the recommendations and decisions taken by the seminar would be sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

“The Centre and state government should not do anything against the wishes of the people. If the government goes ahead with the construction, the people will rise against it. Any problem arising out of the agitation will be the responsibility of the Centre and state government,” Nabachandra said.