Indo-Bangla border: Concerns over alienation of Meghalaya’s border villages

As many as 38 villages in Meghalaya are within 150 yards of the international border with Bangladesh, while the BSF is awaiting concurrence before re-aligning the border fencing. This was

As many as 38 villages in Meghalaya are within 150 yards of the international border with Bangladesh, while the BSF is awaiting concurrence before re-aligning the border fencing.

This was announced by BSF Meghalaya frontier IG Inderjit Singh Rana on Saturday, amid growing fears that the Lyngkhong village would be cut off as border fencing neared completion.

Addressing the media, IG Inderjit Singh Rana said that there are places all over the border where people reside within 150 yards and there are two options to resolve the matter. Option one is to either resettle the inhabitants in areas beyond the 150 yards, or else, with the concurrence of Bangladesh, the fencing can be done ahead of those villages.

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The BSF IG added that the matter is being taken up with the Bangladesh authorities.

Notably, at Lyngkhong village in East Khasi Hills district, the foundation for the single-line fence has been built. However, due to protests by locals, the fencing work had to be stopped. Locals are apprehensive if they will be severed from India due to the fencing.

It may be mentioned that the State government has instructed the National Building Construction Corporation, or NBCC, and the district administration to work on the possibility of pushing the fencing towards the zero line.

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