NEW DELHI: The Centre has rushed additional four Central paramilitary battalions (4,000 personnel) to Manipur to aid the State in reopening National Highway-2 that connects it with Nagaland. The NH has been blocked for nearly two months by an insurgent Naga group.
The Central forces deployed in the State now stand at over 17 battalions (over 17,000 personnel).
"Our top priority is now to reopen the National Highway-2 connecting Manipur (to Nagaland). While the other highway (NH-37) is reopened, we want to reopen the NH-2 too as early as possible," a senior Union Home Ministry official said here on Monday.
The Centre is monitoring the situation in the State and rushed the Central forces in view the security situation there in the wake of violence due to the economic blockade imposed by the Union Naga Council (UNC) on the NH since November 1.
The UNC has imposed the economic blockade on NH-2 (Imphal-dimapur) and NH 37 (Imphal-Jiribam) that is considered as lifelines for the landlocked Manipur.
The State Government has imposed curfew in Imphal East district for the last two weeks after a violent mob torched and vandalised 22 passenger vehicles on the Imphal-Ukhrul road. Likewise, curfew has also been clamped in Imphal West district.