Imphal: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered additional central security forces to be deployed in Manipur, including specialised jungle warfare personnel being moved from anti-Naxal operations in central India.
The decision followed a high-level security review meeting convened by the ministry to assess the security situation in the state.
The deployment includes the 205 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), a specialised unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and five companies of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
The move will bring more than 1,000 personnel to Manipur. Advance teams of CoBRA have already been deployed in Jiribam district along the Manipur-Assam border to secure National Highway-37.
This will be the third CoBRA battalion deployed in the state. Two other battalions had earlier been sent to Manipur during the ethnic violence that intensified in the spring.
CoBRA personnel have specialised training in jungle operations, long-range tracking and guerrilla warfare, developed through their involvement in anti-Maoist operations in Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Senior security sources said the deployment came amid continuing tensions between communities in the state. The Meitei-Kuki conflict, which began in 2023, has displaced thousands of people.
Tensions between Naga and Kuki groups in the hill districts have also added to the security challenges.
The newly deployed personnel are undergoing pre-induction training to familiarise themselves with the terrain and conditions in the Northeast.
Defence officials have not confirmed whether large-scale operations against militant groups are planned.
However, the deployment of specialised forces from anti-Naxal operations in central India comes amid security concerns in areas around Jiribam, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi.