Amid the escalating violence in Manipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday decided to provide an additional 50 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to the state government to deal with the prevailing law and order situation, officials said.
A top Manipur Home Department official said that the 50 companies of the CAPF (around 5,000 personnel) would soon arrive in the state and they would be deployed in the trouble-torn and militancy-affected districts.
The MHA last week provided 20 companies of CAPF -- 15 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and five of the Border Security Force (BSF).
The CRPF companies rushed to violence-hit Manipur from neighbouring Assam while the BSF companies came from Tripura.
A Manipur Home Department official, referring to the MHA communication, said that the fresh 50 companies, comprising the CRPF, the BSF and other paramilitary forces, would arrive in the state in a day or two and they would also be deployed in trouble-torn, vulnerable, mixed population, and militancy-hit districts.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who on Sunday reviewed the situation in the violence-ridden state, would hold another important meeting on Monday to study the situation and is likely to finalise some new strategy.
Officials in Imphal, quoting the Delhi meeting decisions said that Home Minister Shah directed the senior security officials to take effective steps to prevent violence and maintain peace.
They said that the Home Minister rushed to the national capital on Sunday after cutting short his campaign in poll-bound Maharashtra and held a meeting with top Home Ministry and security officials.
"Chief Security Advisor to the Manipur government, Kuldiep Singh, Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi, and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh are likely to attend Monday's meeting virtually from Imphal," the officials said.
Meanwhile, a protester was shot dead during a clash between security forces and a mob in Manipur's violence-hit Jiribam district on Sunday night.
A police official in Imphal said that a youth identified as K. Athouba, 21, was killed in firing and who actually fired the bullet is under investigation.
However, protesters claimed that the Manipur Police special commando fired to disperse the mob, and the youth was killed in the firing and two others were injured. The police official said that the mob was attacking and vandalising properties of various leaders’ houses and political party offices on Sunday night. They were protesting the killing of three women and three children abducted by militants on November 11.
The offices of the Congress, BJP, Shiv Sena and the houses belonging to Jiribam's Independent MLA were ransacked by the mobs, comprising men and women.
The Manipur government also closed all educational institutions for two days -- Monday and Tuesday -- in the curfew-bound five districts -- Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching.
In the extensive violence and attacks by angry mobs on Saturday and Sunday, more than two dozen houses of ministers, MLAs and political leaders and offices of political parties were attacked and vandalised by mobs in several districts, especially in Imphal East and Imphal West districts. This followed the recovery of six dead bodies in Jiribam on November 15 and 16 near the confluence of the Jiri and Barak rivers along the Manipur-Assam border and believed to be of the three women and three children missing since November 11 in Jiribam district.
Manipur Police earlier said that in a November 11 encounter with the CRPF, 10 suspected Kuki militants were killed while in another incident, militants kidnapped 10 people, all belonging to the Meitei community and inmates of a relief camp at Jakuradhor in Jiribam district’s Borobekra sub-division. According to police, of the 10 kidnapped persons, one person was found alive and rescued and another civilian came back on his own to the police station while the bodies of six others were recovered.
Colorful rally of Netaji Subhash Vidyaniketan dazzles in Agartala to mark Netaji’s birthday
Like every year, this year too, the colourful tableaus of Netaji Subhas Vidyaniketan school here at Agartala rolled over the streets of the capital town and captivated all with its dazzling display of culture and heritage.
NCLAT stays CCI ban on WhatsApp, Meta evaluating next steps
Mark Zuckerberg-run Meta on Thursday said it welcomes the decision of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) to stay the ban imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on WhatsApp and will evaluate next steps.
Delhi elections: Parties scale up poll campaign, top leaders to address rallies
With less than a fortnight to go for Delhi Assembly elections, the electioneering is reaching a feversish pitch with top leaders of respective parties hitting the streets to woo the electorate.
I-T raids on leading Tollywood filmmakers continue for third day
The raids were also continuing on the leading production houses Mythri Movie Makers and Mango Media. The department has not yet come out with a statement about the searches but it is believed that it identified a mismatch between the revenues earned by some recent movies and the income tax paid.
One of the greatest sons of Bharat Mata: Prez Murmu pays tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday paid homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 127th birth anniversary, acknowledging his monumental role in India's freedom struggle and his enduring legacy.
India expects accountability on 2023 consulate attack in San Francisco: EAM Jaishankar
Nearly hours after meeting with newly appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said that "India expects accountability" for the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco in 2023 a "very serious matter" and those responsible to be held accountable.
Trump speaks with Saudi's Crown Prince, his first call with foreign leader since taking office
During the call, the Crown Prince congratulated Trump and conveyed the congratulations of King Salman to the President after being sworn in, wishing the American people further progress and prosperity.
Trump redesignates Iran-backed Houthi rebels as foreign terrorist organisation
US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order designating Yemen's Houthi rebels as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), reversing a Biden-era policy that had removed the group from the State Department's list of global terror groups.