The Indian Army on Wednesday said it carried out an area sanitization and de-mining operation along a vulnerable stretch of the India–Myanmar border in Manipur, recovering nine IEDs and two unexploded devices that had stalled ongoing border fencing work.
A defence spokesperson in Guwahati stated that the Red Shield Division of the Indian Army’s Spear Corps conducted the operation at Yangoubung, Manipur, between border pillars 72 and 73 from January 16 to February 17, 2026. The task was undertaken following a requisition from government agencies to facilitate the resumption of stalled border fencing work amid intelligence about improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unexploded ordnance due to the presence of former insurgent camps.
Operating in dense jungle under challenging security conditions, the team cleared and sanitised a corridor measuring 2.6 kilometres in length and 13 metres in width. Nine IEDs and two unexploded devices were destroyed, removing a serious threat to local residents. The operation also allowed Survey of India teams and construction agencies to resume critical border infrastructure work.
Manipur has a 398 km unfenced international border with Myanmar. India shares a 1,634 km border with Myanmar, spanning Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, much of which remains unfenced due to difficult terrain. Around 401 km have already been fenced, with ongoing work focused on vulnerable northeastern states. In Moreh, Manipur, 9.2 km of fencing is complete under the Border Roads Organisation.
The Meiteis support fencing to prevent illegal migration and cross-border crimes, while the Kukis and Nagas oppose it as many of their relatives live on both sides of the border.
