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Central team arrives in Manipur for inspection of border pillar

By Correspondent

IMPHAL, July 24 - A three-member Central team headed by Joint Secretary Sripriya Ranganathan of the Ministry of External Affairs arrived here on a two-day visit to the State today to take stock of the situation arising out of the controversy over the location of a boundary pillar in Tengnoupal district along the India-Myanmar border. The other two team members are Joint Secretary AV Dharma Reddy of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Border Management I) and Lt General Girish Kumar, Surveyor General of India.

Soon after their arrival, the team held a meeting with functionaries of the United Committee Manipur (UCM), a civil society organisation, prior to their trip to the disputed site.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, UCM general secretary Kh Athouba said that they urged the MEA officials to request the Myanmar authorities to review the past agreement and conduct a new survey along with the people of Manipur. The UCM is demanding a resurvey of the entire boundary pillars along the Manipur sector.

Dispute over the location of a boundary pillar under the Moreh subdivision have sparked off protest by several civil society organisations and political parties since last month. Residents of Kwatha Khunou, a border village located near Border Pillar No. 81, alleged that the Indian Government moved the border pillar about 3 km into Manipur.

The issue came to light after officials led by Deputy Commissioner of Tengnoupal district A Tombikanta inspected the border pillar on June 22.

In view of the development, the district administration issued prohibitory orders from 7 pm to 4 am every day, 3 km around the India-Myanmar border, for six months with effect from July 7.

On Monday, Chief Minister N Biren Singh informed the State Assembly that the State Government had urged the Centre for a resurvey/redemarcation as the people have apprehensions about the alleged shifting of the position of Border Pillar No. 81. He also appealed to all political parties and other stakeholders, and the villagers of Kwatha to cooperate in resolving the border pillar issue.

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