Govt sends more forces to Manipur amid shutdown

The Union government has rushed 20 additional paramilitary companies, or nearly 2,500 personnel, to Manipur amid a fresh wave of violence, shutdowns, and threats to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

- Prawesh Lama

In an official communication to the state's chief secretary Vineet Joshi and director general of police (DGP) Rajiv Singh, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) said that 15 companies of CRPF and five of the Border Security Force (BSF) will be moved to the northeastern state. Close to 40,000 personnel from central forces such as the Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) are currently deployed across Manipur apart from the state police and the Indian Army.

"In order to maintain law and order situations in the state of Manipur, it has been decided to provide additional 20 COYs of CAPFs (CRPF 15) and BSF (5) to the government of Manipur with immediate effect," the order, a copy of which HT has seen, said. A Manipur government official continued on said the MHA approved the additional deployment because of the "challenging situation" in the state.

"The additional forces have already reached the state. They will be deployed at sensitive locations," the official said, requesting anonymity.

The increase in deployment comes against the backdrop of fresh attacks on civilians and renewed gunfights between forces and militants, underscoring the simmering tensions in a state where 230 people have died in clashes that started roughly 18 months ago.