Imphal — In a swift response to recent unrest, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has deployed 20 additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), totaling around 2,000 personnel, to Manipur. The reinforcements, which include units from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF), were ordered for immediate airlift and deployment late Tuesday night, aiming to curb the intensifying violence in the northeastern state.
This deployment supplements the 198 CAPF companies already stationed in Manipur, underscoring the government’s intent to stabilize the situation as new incidents of violence arise. The latest deployment follows a particularly violent confrontation on Monday in the Jiribam district, where insurgents, clad in camouflage and wielding advanced weaponry, launched a coordinated assault on the Borobekra police station and an adjacent CRPF camp in Jakuradhor. The clash led to the deaths of at least 10 suspected militants, with security forces seizing a substantial cache of sophisticated arms and ammunition in the aftermath.
The ongoing violence in Manipur has kept tensions high since ethnic conflicts erupted in May 2023, resulting in nearly 200 fatalities and widespread unrest, especially within the Imphal Valley. Following Monday’s incident, reports have emerged of armed skirmishes between groups in the valley, further complicating the already strained law and order landscape.
According to MHA sources, CAPF personnel will remain deployed in the region at least through November 30, with the possibility of extension if the situation remains unstable. The MHA has directed local authorities and CAPF units to maintain heightened vigilance and ensure the security of residents as well as key installations in volatile areas.
Local leaders and residents hope the presence of additional forces will help restore calm, though the complexity of the region’s underlying tensions means the path to lasting peace may still be challenging.