More troops arrive in Manipur, tribal body says meeting Shah

NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI: Ten additional companies of central troops have reached Manipur amid a fresh spell of violence in the strife-torn state, while members of an umbrella tribal body said that they were scheduled to meet Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday

The development came at the end of a tumultuous week for the state where ethnic violence since May 3 has left over 160 people dead and thousands displaced.

On Saturday, three men of the Meitei community were shot dead inside their homes and their bodies were mutilated in Kwakta area of Manipur. Hours later, two men from the tribal Kuki community were killed in Churachandpur district, although it was not immediately clear if the two incidents were connected.

Hours after the fresh spurt of violence, an internal order issued by a CRPF officer had confirmed that ten companies-five of Central Reserve Police Force, three of Border Security Force, and one each of Sashastra Seema Bal and Indo-Tibetan Border Police were expected to reach later that night. The order, dated August 5, was addressed to the state police headquarters.

A security force official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, welcomed the development. "There was a need for more forces. They will be posted depending on the places that are reporting violence or are tense...," he said.