The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has provided specialised law-and-order and crowd-control training to personnel of its elite Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA) after their deployment in violence-affected Manipur, marking a major shift in the role of the force that was originally created for anti-Naxal operations.Officials said the personnel underwent a month-long pre-induction training programme before being deployed in the state. The training focused on crowd management, law-and-order responsibilities and handling the complex security challenges arising from the continuing ethnic conflict in Manipur. The two CoBRA battalions were deployed in the state in May after being reassigned from anti-Maoist operations. Their redeployment followed the Centre’s announcement in March that India had become Naxal-free, allowing the specialised units to be utilised for other internal security responsibilities.
According to officials, the CRPF has instructed CoBRA personnel to strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), avoid unplanned movements and work in close coordination with the Manipur Police and the Indian Army during all operations.To strengthen security arrangements, the force has also deployed around 100 armoured vehicles for patrolling, troop movement and rapid response in vulnerable areas. Officials said the additional vehicles would improve operational mobility while providing better protection to security personnel deployed across the state. The CoBRA commandos, along with regular CRPF personnel, have been assigned the responsibility of maintaining law and order, dismantling insurgent bunkers and preventing armed groups from regrouping. In June, CRPF-led security forces demolished 30 active insurgent bunkers during an area domination operation at Leimakhong in Kangpokpi district.
Manipur has remained affected by ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023. The conflict has claimed more than 260 lives and displaced thousands of people, leading to the large-scale deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to restore peace and maintain security. Officials said nearly 320 companies of CAPFs are currently stationed in Manipur, including around 200 companies of the CRPF. The CoBRA battalions were raised in 2008-09 to combat Left Wing Extremism and earned recognition for conducting intelligence-based jungle warfare operations against Maoist insurgents. With Maoist violence now significantly reduced, the elite force has been assigned a new role in supporting peace and security operations in one of the country’s most sensitive conflict zones.
