IT News
Imphal, Sept 19:
The Union Home Minister has announced a major development in the Indo-Myanmar border security initiative, with a sanctioned budget of Rs. 31,000 crores for fencing a 1,643-kilometer stretch of the border. However, Home ministry has again made a decision not to fence the border at the Kuki areas.
The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has acknowledged the significance of the border fencing, emphasizing that while they support the initiative, it is crucial that Manipur’s territorial integrity is preserved. “Our territory should not be compromised during the fencing process. We have never opposed fencing but want to ensure our land is not lost,” a UCM representative stated. Controversy has surrounded the completion of the fencing between Border Pillar 79 and 81, a 10-kilometer stretch that has already been finished.
In a statement, Home Minister Amit Shah linked the ongoing conflict in Manipur to illegal immigration and the narco business, calling the fencing a necessary measure to curb these issues. The recent abrogation of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) has also been cited as part of the government’s efforts to manage cross-border activities. These moves come as part of a larger effort to address illegal immigration and narco-trafficking, which Home Minister Amit Shah stated have contributed to demographic imbalances in Manipur.
However, new concerns have arisen with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ decision to exclude certain Kuki-dominated areas from the fencing project. The UCM has strongly opposed this step, arguing that fencing should prioritize the regions most affected by cross-border issues. “If the government intends to solve the problem, these areas must be fenced first. It makes no sense to leave out the regions where illegal activities are most rampant,” the UCM stated. It further stated that “India government’s decision is very unfortunate.”
