Assam Rifles DG reviews India-Myanmar border fencing in Manipur
Synopsis
Assam Rifles DG Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera is in Manipur for a two-day security review — and the numbers tell a stark story: only 50 of 398 km of the India-Myanmar border has been fenced so far, even as cross-border arms and drug smuggling persist. The visit signals intensifying Central focus on a frontier that has fuelled Manipur's ongoing unrest.
Key Takeaways
Assam Rifles DG Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera visited Moreh and Chongjang in Tengnoupal district on 28 October 2026 to review border security and fencing progress.
Only 50 km of the 398 km India-Myanmar border in Manipur has been fenced; work on a further 80 km is now underway.
Five Manipur districts — Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong and Ukhrul — share the unfenced international boundary.
Singh and Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla also held separate security review meetings with the Assam Rifles DG during the visit.
CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh has already flagged the need for stronger border management at a NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi.
Assam Rifles Director General Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, reviewed border security arrangements and the progress of fencing work along the India-Myanmar border in Manipur, officials said. The visit, part of a two-day operational tour of the state, covered key sites in Tengnoupal district, which shares a stretch of the international boundary with Myanmar.
Key Developments Along the Border
Lieutenant General Lakhera visited Moreh and Chongjang in Tengnoupal district to assess the prevailing security situation and inspect the status of ongoing border fencing work. He examined key border crossing points and interacted with local residents, stressing the importance of effective surveillance, heightened operational preparedness, and robust border management to ensure sustained vigilance in the region.
Five Manipur districts — Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong, and Ukhrul — share a 398 km unfenced international border with Myanmar, making the fencing effort a matter of strategic significance.
Progress on India-Myanmar Border Fencing
According to Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who recently raised the issue at a NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi, the Ministry of Home Affairs has completed 50 kilometres of border fencing along Manipur's Myanmar frontier. Work on an additional 80 kilometres has since commenced. The Chief Minister also called for stronger border management systems and coordinated action against drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and human trafficking.
Separately, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla last week held a review meeting with senior officials at Lok Bhavan and directed them to expedite the fencing work along the border.
High-Level Security Coordination
Lieutenant General Lakhera, accompanied by Major General Gaurav Sharma, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South), also visited Kakching and Manipur's Garrison, reviewing operational readiness. The Assam Rifles DG lauded troops for their dedication and visited the 'Dakshata Dhama' Hospitality Skill Centre, where he interacted with 25 Commis Chef Trainees as part of an initiative promoting youth empowerment through assured employment.
On Tuesday, Lieutenant General Lakhera met Governor Bhalla at Lok Bhavan in Imphal. According to officials, the interaction focused on the prevailing security situation, operational preparedness, and ongoing peace-building efforts in the state. The meeting underscored the importance of continued coordination between civil and military authorities.
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General G.P. Singh also held a high-level operational review meeting with Lieutenant General Lakhera on Tuesday, discussing a range of security-related issues in Manipur. The Assam Rifles DG further conducted comprehensive reviews at Somsai Garrison, Tusom Company Operating Base (COB) in Ukhrul district, and Chassad Garrison in Kamjong district.
Why This Visit Matters
Manipur has witnessed prolonged ethnic unrest since May 2023, and the porous Myanmar border has been cited by security agencies as a key corridor for arms and narcotics entering the state. This is the latest in a series of high-level security reviews in Manipur, reflecting continued Central and military focus on stabilising the region. With fencing covering only 50 of the 398 km border as of this visit, the operational challenge remains significant. All eyes will now be on the pace of fencing completion and whether enhanced surveillance translates into measurable gains against cross-border crime.
Point of View
Not a resolved one. With just 50 km fenced out of 398 km, the physical infrastructure lags far behind the policy rhetoric of a 'sealed border.' Repeated high-level reviews — by the Governor, the CRPF chief, and now the Assam Rifles DG in the same week — suggest coordination is intensifying, but the gap between review meetings and construction milestones is what the state's residents, and its security forces, are watching most closely.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Assam Rifles DG visiting Manipur?
Assam Rifles Director General Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera is on a two-day visit to Manipur to review border security arrangements and the progress of fencing work along the India-Myanmar border. The visit covers key sites in Tengnoupal district and multiple garrisons across the state.
How much of the India-Myanmar border in Manipur has been fenced?
As of October 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs has completed 50 kilometres of border fencing along Manipur's Myanmar frontier. Work on an additional 80 kilometres has commenced, according to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
Which Manipur districts share a border with Myanmar?
Five Manipur districts — Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong, and Ukhrul — share a 398 km unfenced international border with Myanmar. Tengnoupal, which includes the towns of Moreh and Chongjang, was among the sites reviewed during the DG's visit.
What security concerns does the India-Myanmar border in Manipur pose?
The porous border has been identified as a corridor for arms smuggling, drug trafficking, and human trafficking into Manipur. Security agencies have linked cross-border flows to the state's prolonged ethnic unrest, which has continued since May 2023.
Who else participated in the security review during this visit?
Major General Gaurav Sharma, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South), accompanied the DG during garrison visits. CRPF Director General G.P. Singh held a separate high-level meeting with Lieutenant General Lakhera on Tuesday, and Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla also met with the Assam Rifles DG at Lok Bhavan in Imphal.
