Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday said that the state remains on high alert along its international borders, even as the work on border fencing is nearing completion. He said all security agencies are closely monitoring the situation and, at present, there is no major cause for concern, but constant vigilance is necessary. Speaking on the issue, the Chief Minister said borders are always sensitive areas and assessing whether they are fully secure is not something a state government can decide on its own. He pointed out that border security involves the Government of India and several central agencies. However, he assured that from the state’s side, all possible steps are being taken to ensure safety and preparedness. Sangma said the Meghalaya government, the Border Security Force (BSF), and other agencies are working together and remain fully alert. He revealed that a high-level security review meeting was held on December 24, even though it was Christmas Eve. The meeting included officials from the BSF, Intelligence Bureau (IB), and other concerned agencies.“I did not issue a press release that day because it was an internal security matter,” the Chief Minister said. “But the meeting was very important, so we all sat together and reviewed the situation in detail.”
He added that the borders have been under continuous monitoring since then. According to him, regular reviews and coordination among agencies have helped maintain stability along the border areas. “As of now, we have not seen anything major to be worried about,” Sangma said. “But we have to be very, very alert at all times, and we are prepared in every possible way.” On the issue of border fencing, the Chief Minister said Meghalaya shares around 440 kilometres of international border. Of this, only about 30 to 40 kilometres remain unfenced. He clarified that the remaining stretches are spread across a few districts, with most of the pending work located in West Jaintia Hills and South Garo Hills. Small portions are also pending in one or two other districts. Sangma said that the delay in completing fencing work is due to different issues in different locations. In some areas, local residents have raised concerns about whether the fencing should be built before or after villages. In other places, land acquisition problems have slowed down progress. There are also cases where landowners have not given permission for fencing.“In some locations, court cases are going on,” he said. “All these matters take time, but we are working on each one.”
The Chief Minister said he had reviewed the fencing issue around four months ago, and since then, most of the problems have been resolved. He expressed confidence that the remaining work will also be completed soon. Referring to the West Jaintia Hills section, which has the largest unfenced stretch, Sangma said around 30 to 40 kilometres are still pending there. He added that once the legal and land-related issues are settled, the work will move quickly. The Chief Minister also said the Government of India is closely following the progress of border fencing in Meghalaya. He confirmed that he has been in regular contact with officials in Delhi and has been briefing them on the situation.“We are moving very aggressively on this,” Sangma said. “I hope that the remaining work will be completed soon.” He stressed that border security is not a one-time task but a continuous process. Even after fencing is completed, monitoring and coordination among agencies will remain important. The Chief Minister’s remarks come at a time when border management and internal security remain key concerns for states sharing international boundaries. Meghalaya, which shares a long border with Bangladesh, has often highlighted the need for cooperation between state and central agencies to address security, migration, and local concerns. Sangma said that while challenges remain, the state government is committed to ensuring peace and security along the borders, while also addressing the concerns of local communities affected by fencing and related works.