CM Biren assures to apprise PM on landmine issue
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 02 2024: Even as Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing drew attention of the government on deaths and injuries of villagers due to frequent landmine blasts along the India-Myanmar international border in Kamjong district, chief minister N Biren has assured to address the matter of removing landmines to the level of Prime Minister, Union external affairs minister and Union home minister.

The chief minister gave this assurance in the House while replying to a Calling Attention motion moved by MLA Leishiyo Keishing on Friday.

Raising the motion, the NPF MLA drew government's attention to frequent landmine blasts in border villages particularly in Kamjong district.

He told the House that militants from Myanmar were planting landmines on Indian side of the border particularly in Kamjong district with many border villagers facing fatalities as they stepped on the mines.

Kamjong district shares around 120 km border with Myanmar.

This border line is not war zone but peace zone but it is quite questionable as to how landmines are being planted in this border area, he said and also questioned the role of the border guarding force deployed in the area since the past three decades.

MLA Leishiyo further informed that there had been multiple incidents of landmine blasts in border villages in Kamjong district thereby killing and injuring innocent villagers but formal reports about the incidents were received belatedly due to bad road communication.

In the recent landmine blast, one person was killed and two others injured.

Another landmine blast had also killed a 14 years girl, he said and expressed suspicion that Myanmar militants could be behind planting of landmines on Indian soil.

Drawing attention of the government to detect and defuse landmines in border areas, Leishiyo Keishing further informed the House that all human activities especially farming, gathering of food and grazing of animals have stopped as people fear of stepping on landmines.

He further questioned as to how Myanmar citizens and militants planted landmines despite significant presence of Indian security forces.

He also stressed the need for strengthening Kamjong police station and enhance border guarding activities.

In his reply, chief minister N Biren said there is unrest in Myanmar at present but no report of violence in Wanglee and Namlee border area.

There is report of planting landmines on both the sides of India and Myanmar in the area and this affects movement of people.

Knowledge of the Prime Minister, Union external affairs minister and Union home minister will be required as matter involves neighbouring country, Biren said and assured to apprise the matter to central leadership from his side.

He also assured provide details of the matter to Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba.

While stressing the need for conducting a survey at the earliest to determine number of casualties and planted landmines, N Biren Singh said a government team consisting of state police, CID, Assam Rifles and other officials will be formed to enquire into the matter.

He further assured to pressurise Union external affairs minister to communicate with his Myanmarese counterpart on removing the landmines.

N Biren further informed the House that the Centre had already approved construction of 34 police stations in border areas including in Kamjong district with construction for some police stations had already started and few others about to be completed.

He also said that government is planning to open a check post at Namlee, for which the villagers have also already donated 200 acres land for developing a market centre similar to Moreh.

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