Imphal: A ministerial team will ‘soon’ visit Indo-Myanmar border to study the undemarcated areas in Chandel district, Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam said.
“A cabinet team will soon make an enquiry on whether the proposed erection of border fencing near border pillar 76 would bifurcate several border villages of Manipur in Chandel district,” Gakhangam who is also Deputy Chief Minister said while attending a public function here Wednesday.
He said the proposed fencing work was initiated by the governments of the two countries and all efforts would be made to protect the territories of the tiny border state.
Official sources said there was ‘no incursion or intrusion’ of Myanmar Army or officials into villages near the border although attempts had been made by the latter to set up a base camp near border village of Holenphai, near border pillar 78, about a week ago.
Sources said the state government on different occasions had urged the Centre to initiate steps for re-survey of undemarcated border areas around border pillar 76 by authorities of the two countries, adding that some activities by Myanmar army and officials were going on in Myanmar side near this border pillar.
All major political parties and several organisations including United Committee Manipur (UCM) whose representatives had visited the controversial border areas have urged the Centre to immediately conduct re-survey of the borderline with Myanmar authorities.
They had said if the proposed fencing was erected more than 45 villages would fall within the territory of Myanmar.
Official sources said a high-powered team led by state principal secretary of home Suresh Babu had on August 26 visited the border areas near border town of Moreh to make an on the spot study of the undemarcated border areas in the wake of Myanmar’s attempt to erect border fencing.
The ministerial team would visit the areas after getting the report of the committee, sources said.
While the issue of undemarcated border areas along Manipur-Myanmar has been continuing since June, the present problem came up last week following the attempts of a ‘temporary base camp’ at a disputed area at Holenphai village just three km from the border town of Moreh, official reports from the border said.
Lankhulum Haokip, Chief of the Holenphai village,reported to the state government officials posted at Moreh that Myanmar army or officials started felling trees near Holenphai village to set up a ‘temporary base camp’, reports said adding that Additional Deputy Commissioner Robert Singh Khetrimayum aided by some officials and officer in charge of Moreh police station visited the ‘disputed area.’
The state government officials found that Myanmar army or officials started clearing some jungles near Holenphai, official sources said adding that they also found that the controversial border pillar 76 was removed and replaced it with border pillar 23.
They met the concerned commandant of the Myanmar army of the area and asked them to stop any activity in the area, sources said adding that the Myanmar official had told them that they were doing it at the instruction of their higher authorities.
The Myanmar army official had also told the state government officials that they (Myanmar) had told the commandant of the Assam Rifles 9th battalion, posted at Moreh area, thirty days ago that they would set up a temporary base camp.
A senior state government official at Imphal has said all the matters have been brought to the notice of the Centre and the central leaders have been urged to bring the matter to an end by doing the resurvey of the undemarcated and controversial area by the authorities of both the governments. (PTI)