Shillong, June 8: Residents of Lyngkhong village along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district staged a demonstration on Saturday, demanding that the proposed border fence be constructed along the zero line instead of further inside Indian territory.
The villagers submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Pynursla, urging authorities to suspend the ongoing fencing work until their concerns are addressed.
Lyngkhong is one of the border villages where homes are located only a short distance from settlements across the border in Bangladesh. Under prevailing international norms, border fencing is generally erected at least 150 yards from the zero line. Residents fear that the proposed alignment would leave their village outside the fenced area, effectively isolating it from the rest of India.
“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 said.
Villagers pointed out that the settlement has largely remained separated from Bangladesh by a bamboo barrier erected by residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and claimed that little has changed since then. They expressed concern that the current fencing plan could create long-term issues related to accessibility, security and the future of the village.
Echoing these concerns, resident Rima Khongsdir said the proposed alignment could leave the village outside the fenced zone. She urged the state government to take up the matter with the Centre and address the anxieties of local residents.
Despite the opposition, officials said the fencing project is proceeding as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security along the India-Bangladesh border. Meghalaya shares a 444-km international border with Bangladesh, with less than 80 km remaining unfenced due to terrain-related challenges and local issues.
A senior Border Security Force (BSF) official said a security outpost has already been established in Lyngkhong and assured that adequate measures are in place to safeguard residents.
Meanwhile, a senior Home Department official said the Government of India has raised with Bangladesh the possibility of constructing a single-row fence along the zero line in areas where settlements may be adversely affected by existing fencing norms. According to the official, discussions on the proposal have begun, although the current government in Bangladesh has yet to take a decision on the matter.
