Manipur: Centre rushes more forces; Amit Shah reviews security

The Centre has decided to send an additional 50 CAPF companies comprising more than 5,000 personnel to Manipur in view of the "challenging" security and law and order situation in the northeastern state, official sources said on Monday (November 18).

This comes after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) rushed 20 additional CAPF companies, 15 from the CRPF and five from the BSF, to the state following an order issued on November 12 after violence broke out in Jiribam district and spread to other places.

An additional 50 companies have been ordered to be rushed to Manipur by this week. While 35 units will be drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the rest will be from the Border Security Force (BSF), the sources told PTI.

Also read: Manipur: Protester killed in firing during clash with security forces in Jiribam

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the prevailing security situation and deployment of troops in Manipur for the second consecutive day and directed top officials to focus on restoring peace and order there as early as possible, sources said.

The home minister reviewed the security situation of Manipur with top officials of the central and state governments, the sources said. He also took stock of the deployment of central forces there and directed the officials to restore peace and order there as early as possible, they said. This was the second consecutive day that Shah reviewed the situation of Manipur.

Meanwhile, a protester was killed in firing during a clash between security forces and a mob that was vandalising properties at Babupara in Jiribam district, police said on Monday. The deceased has been identified as K Athouba, who was in his twenties, a police officer said.

The situation in the Northeast state, which has been reeling from ethnic strife since May last year, has been volatile following protests and violence after the recovery of bodies of women and children. 

(With agency inputs)