[ad_1]
Last updated: June 27, 2023, 22:08 IST
Manipur has witnessed complete blockage of National Highway 2 which passes through Kangkopi which is dominated by Koki. NH-37 has been kept open to convoy traffic by the CRPF, but the longer route, officials said, means increased transportation costs and thus higher commodity prices. (representative image/PTI)
Nearly thirty thousand troops have already been dispatched to Manipur since the violence began, while 337 Central Paramilitary Company have been dispatched to West Bengal so far.
Violent-hit Manipur may see more security forces deployed in the coming weeks. Sources told CNN-News18 that the union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is considering positively Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s request to send more troops to the conflict-torn state. Sources said that Biren Singh submitted the request to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during their meeting on Sunday.
Almost thirty thousand troops have already been sent to Manipur since the violence began.
The officials said that the paramilitary personnel deployed in Bengal for the panchayat elections could be sent to Imphal after the polls ended on July 8. A total of 337 central paramilitary companies have been dispatched to West Bengal so far. CRPF has over three hundred companies (approximately 30,000 troops) in Bengal while BSF has about 100 companies (approximately 10,000 troops).
On Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked for details of the deployment when the state election commission requested an additional 485 companies (about 49,000 soldiers).
The leading law-and-order police force, the Central Reserve Police Force, feels the stretch with its outreach to the Jammu and Kashmir hinterlands, the Bengali panchayat polls, and the anti-Naksal operations of Chhattisgarh. This year, the CRPF has been relieved of its duty to guard the cave shrine of Amarnath. ITBP has been given the duty that CRPF has done for years.
Manipur has seen complete blockage of National Highway 2 which passes through Kangkopi which is dominated by Koki. NH-37 has been kept open to convoy traffic by the CRPF, but the longer route, officials said, means increased transportation costs and thus higher commodity prices.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while reviewing the status of Manipur with Home Minister Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, reportedly emphasized the need to ensure essential supplies to the hills and valleys. “More forces may be needed to ensure first that national highways are open and second that PDS stores are operational. For the time being, governance has stalled as employees flee.”
The Manipur government has invited staff to report for the service, but central government sources said that unless there was a sense of security, Kukis who had previously worked or lived in Imphal was unlikely to return.
[ad_2]
