Shillong: Residents of Lyngkhong village in Meghalaya held a protest on Sunday to demand changes to the ongoing India-Bangladesh border fencing project. The community, located in the East Khasi Hills, worries that the current construction alignment will leave their homes on the wrong side of the security barrier, effectively isolating them from the rest of the country.
International convention typically requires border fencing to be situated at least 150 yards from the zero line. However, because Lyngkhong sits directly on the boundary, villagers are urging authorities to construct the barrier exactly along that zero line to keep their homes within Indian territory. The villagers submitted a formal memorandum to the sub-divisional officer of Pynursla to halt the work until their concerns are addressed.
Village head Ramu emphasized the community's position on the matter. "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," he said. Resident Rima Khongsdir added that the community feels anxious about their future and is calling on the state government to lobby the central government for a change in plans.
State officials noted that while most of the 443-km border between Meghalaya and Bangladesh is secured, roughly 80 km remains unfinished due to difficult terrain and local disputes. A senior Home Department official confirmed that India has proposed a single-row fence at the zero line in populated areas, though they are currently awaiting a decision from the Bangladeshi government on the matter. Meanwhile, the Border Security Force continues to operate an outpost in Lyngkhong to assist and monitor the safety of residents during the project.
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