Indian villagers oppose border fence plan that could leave community outside barrier

Inhabitants of a village on the India-Bangladesh border in the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya have protested the proposed border fencing alignment, saying it would leave their community isolated outside the security barrier.

Villagers of Lyngkhong, located near the zero line in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, staged a demonstration on Sunday, PTI reported. Meghalaya shares a 444km border with Bangladesh.

The residents submitted a memorandum to local authorities demanding that fencing be built along the border itself rather than further inside Indian territory, it added.

Village head Ramu said while "we are not against border fencing, we want the fence to be erected at the zero line so that our village remains inside India and within the fenced area."

Located virtually on the zero line in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, Lyngkhong is one of the few villages where homes stand just metres from a settlement in Bangladesh. 

According to international convention, fencing has to be at least 150 yards from the zero line.

Locals say the village had been separated from Bangladesh largely by a bamboo fence erected by villagers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and nothing has changed much.

A senior Home Department official said India has taken up with Bangladesh the issue of constructing a single-row fence along the zero line in areas where human settlements are likely to be affected.

"Talks have been initiated on the proposal to erect a single-line fence at the zero line. However, the new government in Bangladesh is yet to take a decision on the matter," the official said.