Imphal: The central government has sent at least 1,000 more troopers from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to Manipur, where violence continues nearly two months after ethnic clashes first broke out, ThePrint has learnt.
According to a source in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), five companies each of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF) have been asked to leave for the state immediately.
This, the source told ThePrint, is being done to ensure “more feet on the ground”.
India’s CAPF such as Assam Rifles, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) come under the MHA.
“Although the situation in the state is largely under control, it is far from normal. Deployment of more security forces is required in the state and that is why the decision to send more personnel has been taken,” the source said.
The move came on the back of a request from Manipur police for additional reinforcement, the source said, adding that the personnel are expected to reach Manipur by 2 July.
Ethnic clashes between the non-tribal Meitei and tribal Kukis first broke out on 3 May and have continued since, leaving over 150 dead, according to police sources. Several thousands have been displaced as hostilities continue on both sides.
The latest deployment comes less than a month after the MHA sent 114 companies — 52 of the CRPF, 10 of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), 43 of the BSF, four of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and five of Sashatsra Seema Bal (SSB) — to Manipur till 30 June.
Besides these, 70 columns of the Army and the Assam Rifles have also been deployed in the state. While each company of a CAPF includes 80-85 personnel, a column of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles has 50 to 70 personnel each.
According to police sources, 5,960 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed related to the violence. Some 4,983 people were arrested, but most of them were eventually released, sources told ThePrint.
Although state police and security forces have been carrying out combing operations in sensitive areas, the situation remains tense — security sources say that with accusations of partisan action flying from both sides, central forces are also finding it difficult to gain locals’ trust.
“These are challenging times. Locals are enraged, they do not trust outside forces and are making combing operations in the state difficult. The local police have also become helpless. It will help if there is more force on the ground,” a source in the security establishment told ThePrint.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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