The United Committee Manipur (UCM) on Thursday called off its ongoing protests after the state government requested the Central government for suspension of the fencing works along the India-Myanmar border.
UCM president Joychandra Konthoujam cautioned that intensified agitation will resume if further border fencing works are found to be continuing.
He told the media on Thursday that some politicians are taking advantage of the failure to bring an amicable solution in connection with the border fencing issue.
Had the government solved the issue in a timely manner, then the UCM and people of Manipur would not have been living in a panicky situation and going through the apprehension that the border fencing works might affect the territorial boundary of Manipur.
UCM president further said that the committee had put an ultimatum on June 20 to bring an amicable solution concerning the present border issue. However, following the failure in fulfilling the demand, UCM launched agitations from the western gate of Kangla gate on Tuesday.
One of the members of the committee and a journalist were injured during the protest held at Lamlong on Wednesday, he said.
Joychandra added that a team of UCM was called at the CM secretariat in Imphal on Wednesday evening to discuss the matter.
After the representatives of the committee made a strong appeal to chief minister N Biren, special secretary (Home) H Gyan Prakash under his instruction sent a letter to the Union Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs North Block, Central Secretariat on the same day, he said.
He further said Union minister RK Ranjan should immediately verify the facts behind the present border fencing issue.
Meanwhile, the letter mentioned that “the Border Roads Organization (BRO) is currently constructing a border fence along the India-Myanmar border area from BP 79 to BP 81, covering a length of 10 (ten) km from Moreh to Kwatha.”
It mentioned that the law and order situation of the state may worsen in the coming days due to opposition to the ongoing border fencing work by BRO. The Ministry is requested to kindly consider directing the BRO to suspend the border fencing work where the position of border pillar is disputed, especially BP 81 and 82 until the dispute is resolved through dialogue.
The letter also requested to depute a team from the Ministry and the Survey of India for holding a thorough discussion regarding the position of the disputed border pillars. Border fencing in other undisputed areas may be allowed to continue, it stated.
