Meitei bodies of Manipur welcome decision, Naga & Kuki outfits oppose move

Imphal: Imphal Valley-based Meitei organisations have welcomed the Centre’s decision to fence the entire 1,643km-long India-Myanmar border, while Naga and Kuki bodies in Manipur said “it is not acceptable to them”.In a post on X, Shah on Tuesday said the Narendra Modi government is committed to building impenetrable borders. “It has decided to construct a fence along the entire 1643km-long Indo-Myanmar border. To facilitate better surveillance, a patrol track along the border will also be paved,” he said. Manipur shares at least a 398km of border with Myanmar of which 10km has been fenced.Coordinating Committee (Cocomi), a joint body of valley-based civil bodies, hailed the decision to fence the India-Myanmar border but cautioned that no land areas of the state should be compromised in the process.M Dhananjoy, assistant media coordinator of Cocomi said, “Porous borders have undoubtedly led to massive smuggling of drugs threatening the lives of the youths and influx of illegal immigrants.” However, Naga bodies in the state are concerned over the development and made their stand clear that border fencing and cancellation of FMR “is not acceptable” to them.President Ng Lorho of the United Naga Council, the apex Naga body in the state, said, “We are against border fencing and cancellation of FMR. Whatever the Union home minister said is not acceptable to the UNC.” “As for the smuggling of drugs and illegal immigration from Myanmar to Manipur, we urge the Union home minister to find alternative means to counter these,” Lorho added. Tangkhul Naga Long, a prominent body of Tangkhul Naga tribe in Ukhrul and Kamjong district of the state that shares a border with Myanmar, said, “Our stand is very clear. We do not approve of fencing along the India-Myanmar borders and it cannot be accepted”.Meanwhile, Kuki organisations too have expressed “opposition” to the fencing of India-Myanmar border. PTI

Din for shifting border fence to zero line adds decibel

The government provides a nominal inconvenience allowance of Rs 10,000 per acre per year to farmers with land beyond the barbed fence. However, this allowance is not consistently disbursed. Farmers demand an increase to Rs 25,000 and claim that their concerns have been ignored in the past.

2 held for smuggling exotic birds & animals near Myanmar border

Exotic birds and animals worth Rs 68.4 lakh were seized in Champhai district bordering Myanmar. Two individuals from Aizawl and Siaha district were arrested for smuggling the animals. The animals were handed over to the forest department in Champhai.

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