Meghalaya village protests India-Bangladesh border fence alignment, fears isolation

Residents of Lyngkhong village in Meghalaya protested against the proposed India-Bangladesh border fence alignment, saying it would leave them outside the security barrier. They demanded fencing along the zero line and submitted a memorandum seeking government intervention

Pynursla (Meghalaya): Residents of a village along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya held a demonstration on Sunday demanding that the fencing be done along the zero line, else they would get isolated from the rest of the country.

Located virtually on the zero line in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district, Lyngkhong is one of the few villages where homes stand just metres from a settlement in Bangladesh. According to international convention, fencing has to be at least 150 yards from the zero line.

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Locals say the village had been separated from Bangladesh largely by a bamboo fence erected by villagers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and nothing has changed much.

On Sunday, they staged a protest and submitted a memorandum to the sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Pynursla, seeking an immediate halt to the ongoing fencing work.

“We are not against border fencing, but we want the fence to be erected at the zero line so that our village remains inside India and within the fenced area,” village head Ramu told PTI.

He said the proposed alignment would leave Lyngkhong outside the security barrier, raising concerns about access, security and the future of the settlement.

Echoing similar concerns, Rima Khongsdir, a local, said, “If the fence comes up in its present alignment, our village will be left outside. We are worried about our future and want the state government to listen to our concerns and take them up with the Government of India.”

Officials said construction of the border fence is continuing as part of efforts to secure the India-Bangladesh frontier.

Meghalaya has a 444 km border with Bangladesh, less than 80 km of which remains unfenced due to local issues and difficult terrain.

A senior official of the Border Security Force (BSF) said an outpost has already been established in Lyngkhong to provide security and assistance to residents.

“The BSF has a presence in the village and all necessary security measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the residents,” he said.

A senior Home Department official said India has taken up with Bangladesh the issue of constructing a single-row fence along the zero line in areas where human settlements are likely to be affected.

“Talks have been initiated on the proposal to erect a single-line fence at the zero line. However, the new government in Bangladesh is yet to take a decision on the matter,” the official said.