UCM doubts GDI's commitment to safeguard Manipur
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 21 2022:
While the elected representatives continue to shout, vowing to prevent the loss of an inch of Manipur's land; the state's territory is slowly being robbed away by others along the Indo-Myanmar border, as shown by the installation of border pillar no 103, 5 km into Manipur's territory.
The boundary dispute between Manipur and Myanmar has been going on for some time.
According to the villagers residing along the border, the boundary lines, which have been existing for a long time, are vastly different from the sites where border pillars have been installed in present times.
This has raised concerns on the genuineness of the Indo-Myanmar border pillars.
On Tuesday, a United Committee Manipur (UCM) team led by its president Joychandra Konthoujam and general secretary Ng Deba visited the border pillar no 103, erected at Phaikoh village in Kamjong district.
UCM president Joychandra Konthoujam recounted that UCM had begun inspection of Indo-Myanmar Border from border pillar no 76 .
However, when border pillar no 103 was inspected, it was found to be located 3-5 km into Manipur's territory from its previous location.
Commenting on the Government of India's silence over Manipur's loss of land, the UCM president questioned if Manipur was not a state of India.
He then said that both the central and state governments should take the lead in protecting Manipur's territory.
Speaking on the sidelines, Nampisha village headman Shimthar Kamodang informed that border pillar no 103 was erected at least 5km into Manipur's territory without consulting the villages.
As such, the arable lands belonging to Manipur have been lost and the farmers have been denied entry to their paddy fields.