New Delhi, Jul 16: The CRPF has provided special law and order and crowd control training to the personnel of the two CoBRA battalions recently deployed in ethnic strife-torn Manipur, officials said on Thursday.
The central paramilitary force’s specially-armed jungle warfare unit has also been directed to follow a strict standard operating procedure (SOP) and avoid any “stray” or “unplanned movement” in the state.
Officials said that the CoBRA units have been asked to work “in coordination” with Manipur Police and the Army units deployed in the state.
More than 260 people have been killed and thousands have been rendered homeless in the ethnic strife between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
The two Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were deployed in Manipur in May. Before this, these units were conducting operations against Maoists and have since been relieved from that task after India declared itself Naxal-free in March.
The personnel of these two CoBRA units received month-long pre-induction training in law and order and crowd control techniques. They are getting familiarised with the state, officials said.
To tighten the security grid and disarm miscreants, the CRPF has also dispatched about 100 armoured vehicles to transport CoBRA and other security forces personnel for patrolling and quick response duties, according to officials.
The CoBRA and regular CRPF units are working to ensure peace in the region and demolish bunkers and ambush points set up by the miscreants, the officials added.
The CRPF along with other forces, conducted an area-clearing operation in mid-June and dismantled 30 active insurgent bunkers in the Leimakhong town in Kangpokpi district, the officials said.
Manipur has about 320 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) deployed, with CRPF contributing about 200 units.
The CoBRA was raised by the CRPF in 2008-09 to tackle the menace of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) that was raging in multiple Indian states, in addition to insurgency in certain states of the Northeast.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) credits the commandos of this battalion with undertaking successful intelligence-based jungle warfare and guerrilla tactics operations against Naxals leading to the end of Maoist violence in the country this March.
Regarding the deployment of the force in other combat areas, security officials said that about 60 companies of the CRPF are being withdrawn from West Bengal following their deployment there for poll-related duties.
Security officials also said that more units of other CAPFs are being withdrawn from Bengal where assembly polls have just concluded.
About 40 companies of the CRPF, deployed for the assembly polls in April-May, will continue to remain in West Bengal, security officials said. (PTI)
