Former president of the Information Centre for Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM), N. Boy @ Rajendro, on Tuesday refuted allegations that the organisation had obstructed the Indo–Myanmar border fencing work, asserting that ICHAM had never stopped the process and had only raised concerns over possible loss of Indian territory.
Addressing media persons at the Manipur Press Club, Rajendro said that some groups had been spreading “false and politically motivated” claims that ICHAM halted the fencing work for political gain. He accused the Congress and its allied political groups of making “irresponsible allegations” without examining facts.
Clarifying the sequence of events, he said ICHAM first received reports on July 26, 2013, from local bodies regarding the shifting of a border pillar into Manipur’s territory. Following the issue at Govajang village near Moreh, ICHAM submitted a memorandum to the then Chief Minister on August 2, 2013, and formed a Committee on Protection of Land in Border Fencing Manipur.
Subsequently, an urgent state Cabinet meeting was held on August 12, 2013, after which Principal Secretary (Home) Dr. Suresh Babu set up a High Power Committee to verify ground realities.
Rajendro said Dr. Suresh Babu visited Moreh on August 27, 2013, and after inspecting the site, clarified that the construction underway at Govajang was not border fencing but security fencing. He added that following the High Power Committee’s intervention, the government convened an all-political party meeting to review border alignment along the Manipur–Myanmar boundary.
He reiterated that ICHAM’s stance has always been to ensure that border fencing is carried out accurately and without compromising India’s land, and never to impede the project.
