Manipur violence: Centre may send more troops after ground assessment

Security forces have restricted public vehicular movements, particularly in key areas of Imphal, including high-security zones around the Chief Minister’s Bungalow and Raj Bhawan

Additional troops are likely to be deployed in Manipur — which is on the boil again — after a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

According to sources, preparations for sending additional troops are already in progress. Sources within the Manipur government have confirmed that the 20 companies sent by the Union government last week will not be sufficient, given the current tense situation in the state.

Sources also hinted that following Shah’s meeting, the Centre may take major steps based on ground assessment. A senior government official told News18 that once the troops arrive, companies of CAPFs will be deployed evenly in both the hilly and valley areas to maintain law and order, with a particular focus on the valley.

“Currently, in Jiribam district, which is the epicentre of recent violence, several companies have been deployed, and platoons have been sent to nearby areas that might witness further attacks. The Meitei and Kuki communities are opposing the deployment of forces. More troops will arrive in Manipur after receiving official communication,” a top-level official aware of the development told News18.

Meanwhile, DG CRPF Anish Dayal, who was asked to rush to Manipur, will assess the situation and report back to the Home Ministry. Sources suggest that Dayal will brief Shah about the situation, which will guide further action after a detailed discussion with local top officials. The DG CRPF will also visit the tense areas and assess the deployment of forces.

It is expected that in the meeting chaired by Shah with Dayal, a discussion will take place on the letter sent by the Manipur government requesting the withdrawal of the Centre’s decision to expand the operational area of the Army by extending AFSPA to six police stations in the state.

Meanwhile, the political crisis in the Manipur government is also visible after the Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party (NPP) withdrew its support to the BJP-led Manipur government headed by N Biren Singh on Sunday. The NPP expressed “deep concern” over the prevailing law and order situation in the North-eastern state. The Meghalaya chief minister criticised his Manipur counterpart for failing to quell the unrest, which has seen violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups. This violence has led to months of unrest and severely disrupted normal life in the state.