Manipur violence: Centre deploys 20 CAPF companies amid fresh clashes

New Delhi: The Centre has deployed an additional 20 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), consisting of around 2,000 personnel, to Manipur following renewed violence and escalating law and order issues in the region, according to official sources on Wednesday.

The sources told PTI that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued orders on Tuesday night for airlifting and immediate deployment of these units.

Ten militants killed in intense gunfight

In a fierce clash on Monday, at least 10 suspected militants were killed by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) after insurgents, dressed in camouflage and armed with advanced weaponry, attacked the Borobekra police station and the adjacent CRPF camp at Jakuradhor in Jiribam district. The insurgents reportedly opened fire indiscriminately, prompting an intense gunbattle with security personnel. Following the encounter, a large cache of sophisticated weapons was seized by the CRPF.

Additional forces and extended deployment

Sources said out of the 20 fresh Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) companies ordered to be rushed to Manipur include 15 from the CRPF and five from the Border Security Force (BSF).

These units will add to the 198 companies of the CAPFs that are already stationed in the state following the ethnic violence that began in the state in May last year leading to the killing of 200 people.

All these CAPF units will be at the disposal of the Manipur government till November 30 as ordered by the MHA but the deployment is expected to be extended, the sources said.

Renewed violence in Jiribam and Imphal Valley

Tension has been high in Manipur since last week due to a fresh round of violence in Jiribam.

Following the Monday incident, fresh violence was reported from multiple places in Imphal Valley where armed groups from the two warring sides engaged in exchange of fire, the state police had said.

PTI