Strike in Manipur against Myanmar fencing in Chandel district

IMPHAL: A 12-hour strike has been called in Manipur on Monday by a local organisation to protest against the alleged failure of the government to stop the erection of fencing by Myanmar in undemarcated areas along the border in Chandel district.

The co-convenor of the Committee on Protection of Land in Border Fencing ( CPLBF) Ngahonmi Ransang alleged that the government had failed to take any concrete step to stop erection of fencing until a proper re-survey was conducted in the undemarcated border areas.

If the fencing was not stopped, at least 43 villages (2969 houses with 18,000 inhabitants) in three districts of Chandel, Churachandpur and Ukhrul will fall within the territory of the neighbouring country, he said.

The areas from border pillar 32 to 48 in Churachandpur district, 49 to 89 in Chandel district and 90 to 130 in Ukhrul district will be severely affected if the ongoing erection of border fencing was not stopped, he said.

Official sources said the matter had been referred to the Centre as the state government could not do much about the development along the international border.

Several political parties have repeatedly urged the Centre and state government to protect the lands of Manipur and demanded a re-survey of the border areas.

Official reports from Chandel district said Mynmar had been erecting wooden fencing near Holenphai village near the border town of Moreh after felling trees and asked residents of Holenphai to vacate the village.

Holenphai village falls in Manipur, the sources said.