Amid Fresh Violence, 10,000 Additional Soldiers To Be Sent To Manipur

Imphal: In view of the surge in violence in troubled Manipur, the Central government will send over 10,000 more soldiers to the northeastern state.

The addition of 90 companies — approximately 10,800 personnel of the central forces – will push Central deployment in violence-hit Manipur to 288, informed Manipur’s Chief Security Adviser Kuldiep Singh.

“We are getting 90 companies of forces. A sizable portion has already reached Imphal. We have been distributing the forces to protect lives and properties of civilians and monitor vulnerable areas and points,” Kuldiep told newspersons.

“All areas will be covered in a few days. We have made foolproof arrangements. New coordination cells and joint control rooms will be set up in every district. We have reviewed those that are already functioning,” he added.

According to the Chief Security Adviser, 258 people have died in Manipur since ethnic clashes broke out between Meitei community and Kuki tribes in May 2023. Security forces have recovered around 3,000 weapons looted from police armouries, he informed.

“The police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Army, Assam Rifles, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal are all working together to tackle the Manipur issue. Whatever problem comes up, we deal with them together,” said Kuldiep, adding that a new standard operating procedure (SOP) will be set up to secure fringe areas and national highways.

Two weeks ago, a woman from Hmar tribe, was allegedly killed by suspected Meitei militants in Zairawn village, in Jiribam district. Kuki militants retaliated by attacking Borobekra on November 11.

Ten of the Kuki militants were killed in an encounter with the CRPF, while the others took six members of a Meitei family hostage and escaped. The bodies of all six hostages, including an infant and two children, were found in a river two days later.