AGARTALA, Sep 25 (TIWN): Sepahijala District Magistrate Padip Chakraborty on Saturday said, ‘The unfenced border at Sonamura zone is yet about 9.111 KM. However, Chakraborty in month of June said that the fencing is left about 9.5 KM. However, with the gap of 3 months, the border fencing work upgradation is only 0.4 KM.

Although NE  has been recognized under high terror zone, following Home Minister Rajnath Sing’s order to seal the unfenced border works, but under Tripura’s CPI-M regime, the security issue is yet to be taken seriously. Evenafter the nabbing of many Jihadi suspected from Sonamura, including Negirian smugglers Tripura PWD yet to boost the unfecning border.

Secretary of border management of ministry of home affairs (MHA) Susheel Kumar on June month particularly mentioning about wire fencing tracks said that it will be realigned along the border in West Tripura in Sonamura subdivision. 

He said, “The fencing along the 10-km stretch of the border for four minority-dominated villages of Sonamura was held up for more than 12 years because of objection from the villagers”.

However, Susheel Kumar had directed all agencies concerned to complete the fencing work by March 2017. But the working progress shows that the work will be hard to finish 2017 as CPI-M govt. may never speak against minority thinking about the votes, also fueled by Sonamura based Minister Sahid Chowdhury’s appreciation.

The locals did not allow any fencing work inside 150 yards of the borderline and not even in the zero line, alleging that it will divide their families. Sources said that the state government has sought Rs 91 crore, in the name of rehabilitation package for fence victims & with that the work was delaying.

Sonamura has been popular for many issues including Fake Passport, Smuggling, Ganja Cultivation, Jihadi intrusion. Sonamura is often called the Mini Pakistan of Tripura, which has become an open market for Bangladeshis.

Passing via Sonamura border has become a piece of cake for regular goers without passport.

Sonamura has been popular for cannabis, and like tea gardens the nurturing of Ganja is held. The former SP of Sepahijala Pradip De, himself told TIWN about Sonamura’s massive Ganja production.

However, the Present DM should take a strong step against all minorities / locally based people’s objection of Sonamura, as the permanent-safety of whole state  is more important rather than 4 village people’s opinion.