UCM tears apart stand to halt fencing work at Kuki areas
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 19 2024: United Committee Manipur (UCM) president YK Dhiren has said that the Government of India (GoI) deciding to halt fencing work at Kuki dominated areas along Indo-Myanmar border is illogical.

Addressing a press conference at UCM office at Lamphelpat today, Dhiren continued that the Centre should complete the border fencing work by giving priority to areas where cross border movement of illegal immigrants is rampant such as Sagang Division and along the side of Manipur which shares border with Chin State as soon as possible.

UCM condemned the decision reportedly taken by the Centre to halt fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border under Kuki dominated areas in the strongest terms, he said.

UCM tears apart stand to halt fencing work at Kuki areas

Saying that the Government should first fence the border areas where there is unchecked movement of illegal immigrants, the UCM president asked how the GoI is planning to resolve the crisis besieging Manipur for over 16 months by keeping Indo-Myanmar open at Kuki dominated areas where there are rampant cross border movement of illegal immigrants.

Asking whether the GoI wants to keep the State in a restive agitation to implement their hidden agenda, Dhiren added that the Government should not engage in any activity which may escalate the crisis in Manipur.

He said that UCM doesn't oppose fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border but Manipur's land should not be compromised under any condition.

Union Minister Amit Shah had on multiple occasions stated that the drug issue and illegal immigrants were the root cause which triggered the unrest in Manipur, Dhiren reminded.

Saying that influx of illegal immigrants causes demographic imbalance in Manipur, he asked why the GoI decided to fence Indo-Myanmar areas at Kuki dominated areas after other places.

He said that UCM will mount pressure on both the Centre and the State Government to complete the border fencing work at the earliest.