The Indian government has announced the addition of 50 more companies from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF) to Manipur.
This increase, which involves over 5,000 personnel, is in response to a new wave of ethnic violence that began in Jiribam district and has since spread to other regions.
This marks the second deployment of troops following recent disturbances in the state.
The situation escalated after six Meitei individuals were allegedly kidnapped by Kuki militants. This occurred following a clash in which the CRPF killed 11 suspected Kuki militants.
In response, Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a high-level meeting in Delhi to assess Manipur’s security situation, leading to the cancellation of his rallies in Maharashtra to concentrate on the emergency.
A senior government official has stated that these additional troops will be distributed evenly across both hilly and valley regions, with a primary emphasis on upholding law and order in the valleys. There have been restrictions placed on public vehicle movement in key areas of Imphal, including near the Chief Minister’s residence and Raj Bhawan.
Political tensions have escalated as the National People’s Party (NPP) has withdrawn its support for the BJP-led government in Manipur due to serious concerns regarding the state’s law and order conditions.
Despite this withdrawal, the BJP still holds a majority with backing from other parties such as the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and Janata Dal (United).
The situation has led to a curfew being imposed across several districts in Imphal Valley, and internet services have been shut down to curb the dissemination of harmful content.
In light of the escalating violence, the Centre has reinstated the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in six police station areas, including Jiribam.
Investigations are currently in progress for the post-mortem reports of 10 Kuki-Zo victims, which are yet to be completed. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’s Forum has plans to carry out an independent review due to doubts regarding the credibility of these reports.
