MLAs under tight cordon as Manipur conflict rages on

The Central Armed Paramilitary Forces have been roped in to provide security cover to at least 18 MLAs from the valley in Manipur, officials familiar with the matter said on Friday, in a move that came after the houses of legislators were targeted by violent protesters.

- Prawesh Lama

Personnel from the CRPF and BSF have set up bunkers and placed barricades outside the homes of legislators, the officials said. The paramilitary forces are in addition to the security already provided by Manipur police.

Senior police officers said that following last week's violence, MLAs approached the police raising concern about threat to their and their family's lives. "Security has been provided to all MLAs but we have provided tighter security (in terms of number of personnel) to those on whom there are specific threats. The bunkers at the houses of the MLAs have been made by the forces based on their standard operation procedure. At some places Casper vans along with riot control personnel have also been posted," a senior Manipur police officer said.