Manipur, Meghalaya impose night curfew, 3 other NE states step up border vigil in view of ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh

Manipur and Meghalaya have imposed night curfews while Tripura, Mizoram and Assam have beefed up security measures along their border with Bangladesh in view of the country’s ongoing turmoil.

These states share an international boundary with Bangladesh. Of the 4,096 km India-Bangladesh border, Meghalaya shares 443 km, Tripura 856 km, Mizoram 318 km and Assam 262 km. However, Manipur shares 398 km of international borders with Myanmar, but none with Bangladesh.

The Manipur Government on Tuesday imposed a night curfew in Pherzawl and Jiribam districts to check illegal immigration from Bangladesh.

Anticipating an influx of illegal immigrants from violence-hit Bangladesh, the East Khasi Hills District Administration in Meghalaya has imposed night curfew, while the District Administration of South West Garo Hills has prohibited the movement of people within 200 meters of the Indo-Bangladesh border from 6 PM to 6 AM until further notification amidst reports of terrorist and fundamentalist trying to sneak into Indian territory in the night.

Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong said that the 6 pm-6 am curfew will remain in force until the situation in Bangladesh improves.

Assam, Mizoram and Tripura have tightened their border security, deploying additional forces.

Assam issued a “high alert” in its 4 districts – Karimganj, Cachar, Dhubri and South Salmara-Mankachar, which share an international border with Bangladesh: Karimganj, Cachar, Dhubri, and South Salmara-Mankachar.

Lalbiakthanga Khiangte, IGP (law and order), Mizoram said that extensive security measures are in place along the border to make sure that the political unrest that is causing widespread bloodshed in Bangladesh does not extend to the state.

Over apprehension of infiltration of foreign nationals, the Tripura Government also tightened its security measures along its border with Bangladesh.

Talking to media, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Tuesday said that he is in constant touch with the Centre and had a word with the chief secretary, Tripura Police DGP, BSF, and Assam Rifles asking them to keep a close vigil.

Bangladesh has been on the boil for nearly a month now after anti-quota and anti-government protests erupted in the country in July.
The nationwide protests by students also resulted in Sheikh Hasina’s resignation from her post as Prime Minister on Monday.

The protests in Bangladesh have erupted due to demands for reforming the quota system that reserves civil service jobs for specific groups, including descendants of 1971 war veterans.

At least 300 people were killed during the violence in just 3 weeks, making it the bloodiest phase in Bangladesh’s civil movement history.