GUWAHATI: The deteriorating law and order situation in Manipur in the wake of fresh violence made the Centre rush 20 additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to the ethnic violence-hit state.
In an order issued on November 12, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the 20 additional companies, comprising 15 from the Central Reserve Police Force (ex-Assam) and five from Border Security Force (ex-Tripura), would be provided "with immediate effect and upto November 30."
Meanwhile, a goods-laden truck, en route to Noney, was torched on National Highway 37 in Tamenglong at around 6 am on Wednesday. Tamenglong and Noney are Naga-majority districts.
Alleging that Kuki militants were involved in the incident, the Rongmei Naga Students’ Organization announced a “total boycott” of all supplies to the Kukis in the two districts.
“This decision is a direct result of their irresponsible and violent actions, which have jeopardized the peaceful atmosphere within our region,” the organisation said in a statement, adding, “This attack marks the second such incident targeting vehicles along NH-37 and represents a deliberate attempt to undermine the existence of Rongmei people within their own jurisdiction.”
The last such incident along this highway took place on April 16 when alleged Kuki militants had targeted LPG and oil tankers. One person was injured in the attack.
Meanwhile, normal life was affected in the Imphal valley on Wednesday during a 24-hour shutdown. Shops and commercial establishments, and schools and colleges remained closed. Attendance in government offices was thin.
The shutdown was called by 13 civil society organisations demanding government intervention to secure the release of six Meiteis – three women and three children – reported missing since Monday’s gunfight in Jiribam district that left 10 militants dead.
The protestors submitted a memorandum to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya demanding immediate government actions to address the current crisis, including the safe rescue of the six missing persons, securing national highways and establishing a no-entry zone in the vulnerable hill areas to protect the farmers.
The police said the search for the missing persons was continuing.