Manipur violence claimed 258 lives, additional forces deployed: Security Advisor

The ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023 has claimed 258 lives, including militants, according to Manipur’s Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Singh also confirmed the deployment of an additional 90 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), bringing the total number of central forces in the state to 288 companies.

“A sizable portion of these reinforcements has already arrived in Imphal. These forces are being distributed to protect civilian lives and properties, as well as to monitor vulnerable areas,” Singh stated. The new deployments are part of a broader strategy to cover all regions of the violence-hit state within days. New coordination cells and joint control rooms are being established across districts to strengthen the security apparatus.

Singh reported that approximately 3,000 weapons, looted from police armories during the initial clashes, have been recovered so far. He also disclosed that 32 individuals have been arrested in connection with the vandalism and arson targeting properties of ministers and MLAs.

The violence, which initially stemmed from clashes between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes, saw a recent escalation following the alleged killing of a Hmar woman, a mother of three, by suspected Meitei militants in Jiribam’s Zairawn village on November 7. In retaliation, Kuki militants attacked Jiribam’s Borobekra on November 11, resulting in a deadly encounter with the CRPF.

Ten militants were killed in the encounter, but the rest managed to escape after taking six members of a Meitei family hostage. Tragically, the bodies of the hostages, including an infant, were later discovered in a river.

Singh highlighted that the security operations involve multiple forces, including the police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), army, Assam Rifles, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal. “All forces are working in unison to tackle the situation. Operations are ongoing, and new standard operating procedures are being developed to secure fringe areas and national highways,” Singh assured.

MT