India will deploy an additional 5,000 paramilitary troops to Manipur, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, following deadly clashes in the state that left 16 people dead last week.
The northeastern state of Manipur has been embroiled in ethnic violence for more than 18 months, with frequent clashes between the Meitei majority, which is predominantly Hindu, and the Kuki community, which is largely Christian. The violence has resulted in the fragmentation of the state into ethnic enclaves.
Last week, ten Kuki militants were killed while attempting to assault police, leading to the apparent reprisal killings of six Meitei civilians. Their bodies were discovered days later in the Jiribam district.
A government source in New Delhi, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that “50 additional companies of paramilitary forces have been ordered to go to Manipur.” Each company in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), which is overseen by the Ministry of Home Affairs and responsible for internal security, consists of 100 troops. The additional forces are expected to be deployed by the end of the week, according to reports.
India already has a large number of troops in Manipur trying to maintain order. The ongoing violence has resulted in at least 200 deaths over the past 18 months. In response to the latest violence, the state has imposed periodic internet shutdowns and curfews, including in the state capital Imphal on Saturday, after the discovery of the six bodies sparked violent protests from the Meitei community.
The ethnic conflict has displaced tens of thousands of people, further exacerbated by the state’s proximity to war-torn Myanmar. During the unrest, enraged crowds attempted to storm the homes of local politicians, and several properties belonging to lawmakers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs the state, were damaged in arson attacks.
The long-standing tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities are fueled by competition over land and jobs, with rights groups accusing local leaders of intensifying ethnic divisions for political gain.
