Porters remain indispensable to SF on border areas

IMPHAL, Feb 16 : Under virtual absence of road infrastructure, porters remain indispensable to the security personnel posted in forward areas, particularly along the Indo-Myanmar boundary in Chandel district.The need for porters is felt all that more during rainy season for transporting food and other essential items for the security personnel de-ployed in the forward areas.The condition is more or less similar to the forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir and border areas of Arunachal Pradesh in terms of absence of transport infrastructure and difficult terrain. For the troops deployed in interior areas of Kashmir and along the Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh, it is a compulsion to stock food and other essential items before the harsh winter season sets in.But here in Manipur, troops deployed in forward areas use to stock all essential items ahead of the rainy season.During an extensive tour by this reporter along Indo-Myanmar border in Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul districts, the harsh conditions and difficulties faced by Assam Rifles and Army troops were observed directly.At present, AR troops under 10 Sector, 25 Sector and 27 Sector area are de-ployed in Chandel, Chura- chandpur and Ukhrul districts.One forward area very close to Myanmar is Molcham. Here troops of the 10th Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry are being deployed. But the area has no road connectivity with other parts of the district. On the way to Molcham village, this reporter travelled along the river bed on a vehicle. At one point, the vehicle strayed into Myanmar thinking that it was within Manipur. The goof-up was realised only after seeing a milestone which defined the distance between Tamu and Manda-lay. It was also ob-served that the road was constructed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) of India.Even though it is the dry season, it is no easy task to get fresh vegetables for the troops there. During rainy season, no vehicle can reach the village. As such, food and other essential items are brought there by porters covering a distance of about 40 kms. During rainy season, porters remain indispensable for the troops deployed there. Nevertheless, a new road connecting Molcham to Khengjoi via Yangoulen was seen being constructed. At Molcham, a packet of common salt made in India which costs Rs 9 is bought at Rs 15 from the neigbouring Bokan village of Myanmar. Common salts are brought to Bokan from Moreh through Tumu.Troops deployed in Molcham are occupying the village community hall as their temporary post. Talking to this reporter, the villagers expressed desire to open a police station at Molcham. For the 10 JAKLI post located at Yangoulen, three villagers have been hired to fetch water to the post at monthly wage of Rs 3000.