Student bodies decry order to prepare DPR
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 23 2024: Terming the central government's order to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on October 17 for the Indo-Myanmar border fencing project despite objection raised by the Naga community against any such fence in Naga-inhabited areas, as unfortunate; Southern Tangkhul Students' Unions and Eastern Tangkhul Students' Union have jointly expressed strong opposition against continuing the border fencing works.

Addressing the media at Thangjing Hall of Manipur Press Club on Wednesday, Eastern Tangkhul Students' Union president Wungnaothan Chingthung said that the two bodies have been opposing the BJP central and state governments' steps to construct the border fencing in Naga-inhabited areas along the Indo-Myanmar border and also against scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) .

A memorandum in this regard was also submitted to the chief minister on September 20, he recalled.

While the Tangkhul student bodies were hoping that the government would take the matter seriously, the central government instructed authority concerned on October 17 to prepare a DPR for installation of fencing in key areas of the Indo-Myanmar border.

On top of this, the central government's letter included Chassad/Kamjong, which has created confusion amongst the two ethnic communities of the areas.

As such, the centre should refrain from creating misunderstandings between the communities in this regard, he cautioned.

Wungnaothan further said that the Indo-Myanmar border is also a disputed stretch of land as forefathers narrated that Manipur's border stretches till the Ningthi (Chindwin) River.

Moreover, consent of the border villages and the villagers is essential before any fencing is done.

Contrary to this, any forceful border fencing work will not be accepted, he contended and urged for stopping the works immediately, failing which any unwanted consequences shall be the responsibility of the central and state governments.

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