Indo-Myanmar border MHA Secy advocates deployment of drones, sensor systems

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 20 : Dr Rajendra Kumar, Secretary (Border Management) of the Ministry of Home Affairs has reviewed the security archi-tecture and infrastructure projects along the strate-gically vital Indo-Myanmar border today, days after border fences were found dismantled at Changpol village in Chandel.
The breach, which was discovered on December 2, spanned approximately 200 metres.
During his tour, Dr Rajendra who landed in Imphal yesterday carried out an on-ground inspection of frontline border posts and surveillance installations along the Indo-Myanmar border along with security personnel to address operational challenges and gather feedback on enhancing field effectiveness, said a statement issued by IGAR (South).
In a high-level review meeting involving the Assam Rifles, local adminis- tration and various security agencies, Dr Kumar emphasised the necessity of opti- mizing patrolling and strengthening real-time intelligence sharing.
He advocated for the rapid integration of modern monitoring techniques, specifically the deployment of drones and advanced sensor systems, to ensure a robust and “smart” border management framework.
The Secretary reiterated the Government’s resolve to safeguard National integrity while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade.
He concluded the visit by urging all agencies to maintain peak operational readi- ness and proactive coordination to curb illegal activities and ensure regional stability.
Notably, various Naga and Kuki organisations have been opposing the Indo-Myanmar border fencing project and the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime, arguing that the Government’s initiative will divide the communities living on either side of the border.
Additionally, border fences spanning approximately 200 meters were found dismantled between Border Pillars 67 and 68 on December 2, at Changbol village in Chandel.
So far, there have been no reports of arrests related to the breach.
The Government has repeatedly stated that the purpose of the border fencing is to prevent the smuggling of drugs, arms and other illegal cross-border activities.
The fencing work is being carried out by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), with security provided by the CRPF and border surveillance by the Assam Rifles.
Earlier, a similar incident of border fencing being dismantled was reported near the Assam Rifles post, close to Border Pillar 77 in Moreh.