Centre Sends 50 Additional CAPF Companies to Manipur Amid Rising Tensions

Guwahati:The Indian government has stepped up its security measures in Manipur by dispatching 50 additional companies from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), totaling over 5,000 personnel, to assist in restoring order in the region. This deployment follows the earlier dispatch of 20 CAPF companies after violent clashes erupted in Jiribam district and spread to other parts of the state.Of the new units, 35 companies will be deployed from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), while the remaining 15 will come from the Border Security Force (BSF). This brings the total number of CAPF personnel in the state to 218 companies. CRPF Director General A.D. Singh, along with senior officials from other CAPFs, is already in Manipur to monitor the situation and evaluate the effectiveness of the ongoing operations.The decision to increase troop presence comes as the government, in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the state government, prepares a detailed strategy to address the growing unrest. The security reinforcements are set to focus on areas most affected by violence, with the aim of stabilizing the region and restoring law and order.Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting on Monday to discuss the volatile situation in Manipur and finalize plans to restore peace. Since ethnic clashes between the Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo tribes in the hills began in May 2023, tensions have been running high. Recent reports of the discovery of the bodies of women and children have further exacerbated protests and violence in the region.As part of the ongoing security efforts, the government has re-imposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in six police station areas, including Jiribam, which has experienced some of the most intense violence.