Residents of Lyngkhong village in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district staged a protest on Sunday against the ongoing fencing work along the India–Bangladesh border, demanding that the barrier be constructed on the zero line to avoid isolating the settlement.
The village lies close to the international boundary with Bangladesh and is part of the 444-km border shared by Meghalaya with its neighbour.
Locals submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Officer of Pynursla, urging an immediate halt to the current fencing alignment. They argued that if the fence is not placed on the zero line, the village risks being left outside the security perimeter, affecting access and future connectivity.
Village head Ramu said the residents were not opposed to fencing but wanted it aligned in a way that keeps Lyngkhong within Indian territory inside the secured zone.
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“If the fence comes up in its present alignment, our village will be left outside. We are worried about our future and want the state government to take it up with the Government of India,” said local resident Rima Khongsdir.
According to international convention, border fencing is typically constructed at least 150 yards from the zero line. However, residents say this alignment would effectively isolate their village.
The Border Security Force (BSF) has established an outpost in Lyngkhong to ensure security and assist residents, officials said.
A senior official said India has taken up the issue of constructing a single-row fence along the zero line with Bangladesh, particularly in areas where human settlements may be affected, though a decision is still pending from the neighbouring country’s new government.
Meghalaya shares a long and sensitive frontier with Bangladesh, with portions of the border still unfenced due to terrain challenges and local concerns.
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