Leishiyo quizzes Govt on landmines planted at Kamjong
'Myanmar militants steps ahead in area domination'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 02 2024: Naga People's Front (NPF) MLA Leishiyo Keishing today quizzed the Government on how Myanmar militants planted landmines in Kamjong district, Manipur along Indo-Myanmar border which is guarded by troops of Assam Rifles.

Raising a call attention motion in the State Assembly today, Leishiyo Keishing said that many people have been killed between May 1 and July 26 this year in landmine explosions planted by Myanmar militants along the Indo-Myanmar border pillar numbers 91 to 94 .

A number of cattle and other animals have also been killed in the landmine explosions.

For fear of landmines, the local villagers are not going to agricultural fields and they are not venturing out of homes/villages thereby suspending all economic activities, Leishiyo said.

Leishiyo quizzes Govt on landmines planted at Kamjong

A fear psychosis has gripped the villagers, he added.

Asking how the villagers would live under such a highly risky atmosphere, the NPF MLA said that the Myanmar militants have succeeded in area domination within Manipur while the local villagers are unable to access the border areas.

As the exact spots where the landmines are planted are not known, jungles are often burnt from the side of Myanmar to let the landmines explode, he said.

Questioning how the villagers are made victims of landmine explosions right in front of the Assam Rifles troops who are assigned to guard the Indo-Myanmar border, Leishiyo said that the AR troops have been staying in safe zones instead of operating in the border areas and they have taken up the task of checking civilians and interception of timber which should be done by Police, Customs, Excise and Forest Department.

Even if police are asked to protect Kamjong district which has been left unprotected by AR troops, police manpower and infrastructure in the border district are very weak, he said.

The NPF MLA then urged the Chief Minister who is also in charge of the Home Department to exert pressure on the Ministry of Home Affairs to relocate the AR camps situated near Kamjong district headquarters.

He also appealed to the House to adopt a resolution to strengthen police manpower and infrastructure in Kamjong district, ensure effective operation of Excise, Customs and Forest Department, appoint an Additional Deputy Commissioner, identify all spots where landmines have been planted and enforce a complete ban on use of landmines in Manipur.

Replying to all the call attention motion, Chief Minister N Biren noted that the issue of planting landmines is a very serious one.

The Chief Minister stated that he would take the issue to the Prime Minister, the External Affairs Ministry and the Home Ministry.

A detailed information would also be sent to Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba with a request to highlight the issue to the Central Government, Biren said.

He said that teams of AR, police, CID and district administration would be sent for a spot survey to assess the present situation and collect detailed information on the casualties caused by landmine explosions.

Following approval from the Centre, construction of necessary infrastructure has been going to set up 34 police stations along the Indo (Manipur)-Myanmar border, the Chief Minister stated.

Moreover, local villagers have handed over an area of 200 acres for construction of an ICP along the Indo-Myanmar border in Kamjong district.