Manipur violence: Centre sends 2,000 more CRPF troops; colleges to remain shut till Sept 12

Internet suspended in five valley districts; security forces conduct series of search operations across the state

Police fire tear gas shells to disperse students protesting against a fresh wave of ethnic violence in Imphal | AP Police fire tear gas shells to disperse students protesting against a fresh wave of ethnic violence in Imphal | AP

Amid a fresh wave of violence and protests in Manipur, the state government on Tuesday announced that all government, aided and private colleges in the state would remain closed till September 12.

“All the colleges in the state would remain closed on Wednesday (September 11) and Thursday (September 12),” said an official order signed by Laishram Dolie Devi, Joint Secretary, higher and technical educational department.

Meanwhile, the Centre has sent two fresh CRPF battalions comprising about 2,000 personnel for security duties to the state. The battalion number 58 is being moved from Warangal in Telangana while the one numbered 112 is being sent from Latehar in Jharkhand, reported PTI.

About 1,000 personnel make up the operational strength of a CRPF battalion. The force has three main theatres of combat including combating insurgency in the Northeast apart from anti-Naxal operations and counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The northeast state has been witnessing ethnic conflict since May last year claiming more than 200 lives. The violence flared up last week when at  least eight persons died and over 12 injured in a fresh wave of attacks, which included drone and missile strikes.

Police said on Tuesday that they had recovered tails of sophisticated rockets from the attack sites. 

"There is evidence of drone and hi-tech missile attacks. Drones have been recovered. Tails of sophisticated rockets fired on civilian areas have been recovered," said IGP (Administration) K Jayanta Singh.

The Army, Assam Rifles, and other security forces have conducted a series of search operations across various districts of Manipur, resulting in the recovery of substantial quantities of arms and ammunition, according to an official release. 

Meanwhile, the state government on Tuesday evening issued an amended order saying the internet suspension was only applicable to five valley districts. Earlier, the government had issued a notification for suspension of internet services in the entire state for five days.

Over 40 students were injured on Tuesday following clashes with security forces when they attempted to march towards the Raj Bhavan in Imphal. The protesters have been demanding the removal of the DGP and security advisor to the state government.

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