In Kuki-dominated areas fencing along Myanmar border paused

Imphal: Despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent statement regarding speeding up fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, a report by ‘The Indian Express’ has revealed that the central government has decided to temporarily halt fencing work in Kuki-dominated areas of Manipur.

According to sources, a meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) concluded that fencing in Kuki-populated hill regions will be delayed, with work continuing in other areas along the border.
A senior government official confirmed to Indian Express that the focus has now shifted to regions with Naga populations, where the fencing work will be prioritized and completed first.

Kuki-Zo organizations have voiced strong opposition to the border fencing, arguing that it undermines the ‘Free Movement Regime’ (FMR), which permits residents living within 16 kilometers of the border on either side to cross without a visa and remain for up to two weeks.

“The decision was made in response to concerns raised by the Kuki community, which primarily resides in border areas. While their demands have been considered, fencing in these areas will be completed at a later stage,” a top-level official told ‘News18’.

Initially, the government had planned to accelerate fencing efforts in Kuki-dominated regions to curb infiltration, but opposition from Kuki-Zo groups prompted a reassessment. The Indo-Myanmar border stretches across five Manipur districts—Churachandpur, Chandel, Kamjong, Tengnoupal, and Ukhrul—covering 398 kilometers.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed the Modi government’s commitment to securing India’s borders, stating that the MHA had previously decided to scrap the FMR in February to ensure internal security and preserve the demographic structure of India’s northeastern states bordering Myanmar.