The residents and village chiefs of Manipur’s Chandel district held protests yesterday against the proposed change in the alignment and demarcation of the India-Myanmar international border.
Protests have been organized by the Affected Border Area Kuki Chiefs opposing any proposals for change that involve Boundary Pillars (BP) Nos. 65 to 68. The protesters have claimed that they will not be accepting anything that can lead to the loss of what they call their ancestral land.
The protests came as a result of administrative instructions issued following a meeting chaired by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on May 11, 2026. According to protesters, the Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed completing the exercise in three months including the proposed shifting or realignment of boundary pillars in the Khengjoi sector.
The affected boundary pillars are BP No. 65 at Molcham, BP No. 66 at Jangngoulen, BP No. 67 at Khumkot, and BP No. 68 at Joldam.
The village chiefs also stated that the alignment suggested does not align with the ground realities or traditionally known boundaries of the communities living along the border area. The affected areas consist of their ancestral settlements, jhum land, paddy land, community land, and burial grounds belonging to the local Kuki-Zo communities.
The rejection of the alignment suggested and retaining the present ground positions have been demanded by the chiefs. This agitation has also got support from the Kuki Inpi Chandel.
The agitators called the suggestions as a unilateral administrative action and assured that there will be opposition to any change in the present alignment or change in ownership of the land.