NPF opposes border fencing plan in Naga areas
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 23 2024: The Naga People's Front (NPF), which is an alliance partner of the BJP-led government in the state, raised objection against the proposal for fencing the In-do-Myanmar border in the Naga-dominated areas of Manipur.

In a statement issued Wednesday, NPF general secretary Hon-reikhui Kashung said the party opposes fencing the border in Naga area without correcting the traditional boundaries.

On the other-hand, the same NPF statement lauded resolution of the Hill Areas Committee, which urged the government to conduct the long-pending Autonomous District Council elections.

It, however, asserted that it opposes "any unconstitutional proposal which hamper the smooth functioning of administration" .

Regarding the border fencing project, mention may be made that the Cabinet Committee on Security has, in principle, approved the construction of border fencing and roads along the 1,643-km international border between India and Myanmar at an approximate cost of Rs 31,000 crore.

About 10 km of fencing has already been completed near Moreh and work is underway to fence another 21 km of the border in other areas of Manipur.

The Centre has already scrapped the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allowed people residing close to the bolder to venture 16 km into each other's territory without any documents.

It was implemented in 2018 as part of India s Act East policy.

The India-Myanmar border passes through Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

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