New Delhi: Shocked over the unabated violence in Manipur, the Centre on Monday decided to send 50 more companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to maintain law and order even as Home Minister Amit Shah has asked the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to take all necessary steps to ensure peace in the state.
Home Minister Amit Shah during a security review meeting with the top security officials at his residence also took stock of the deployment of the security forces in the volatile state.
“Home Minister Amit Shah following his meeting with the top security officials, asked the agencies to take all necessary measures to maintain law and order in the state. The Home Minister has also asked the CRPF to ensure peace in the state,” said a senior government official privy to the meeting told ETV Bharat.
This is the second meeting chaired by Shah over the Manipur situation. On Sunday, Shah curtailed his visit to Maharashtra for a political campaign and reviewed the present situation with top security officials. With this additional 50 companies of CAPF deployed to the state, 70 CAPF units are now being mobilised to ensure law and order in the state. Earlier, the home ministry had deployed 20 companies of CAPF including CRPF and BSF to Manipur.
Fresh protests erupted in Manipur on Saturday after the killing of six people, whose bodies were found in the Jiribam district after they were kidnapped allegedly by militants. A curfew has been imposed in Imphal West and Imphal East in violence-hit Manipur and internet services were suspended in seven districts following unrest till November 20.
A PTI report said that 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.
A 20-year-old boy in the Jiribam district lost his life when security forces opened fire to control a protesting mob on Sunday. Amid rising tensions, mobs ransacked and set fire to other properties of the BJP and the Congress leaders in the same area.
In a related development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe of three cases from Manipur police linked to the recent violence in Manipur following directives from the Home Ministry.
A source in NIA told this correspondent that the first case is the murder of a woman at Jiribam by armed militants with State FIR No 80(11)2024 Jiribam PS dated 08.11.2024.
The second case relates to the attack on the CRPF post at (A-coy, 20th Bn) located at Jakuradhor Karong and Borobekra police station in Jiribam by armed militants with State FIR No. 30(11) Borobekra PS dated 11.11.2024. The third case relates to the burning of houses and killing of civilians at Borobekra with State FIR No. 29(11) Borobekra PS dated 11.11.2024. NIA has registered all the cases on November 13.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Meitei Association has organised a silent candlelight protest condemning the brutal killing of six people, including three women and three kids, allegedly by the Chin-Kuki-Zo militants.
“The tragic incident, perpetrated by armed Chin-Kuki-Zo groups, has sent shockwaves across the nation. The victims, who sought refuge in the IDP camp, were brutally murdered in the evening. This act of violence is a heinous crime that shocks the conscience of humanity,” the Karnataka Meitei Association said. (with agency inputs)
