Centre Deploys Two CoBRA Battalions to Manipur for Targeted Anti-Violence Operations

The Centre has ordered the deployment of two battalions of the CRPF’s elite CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit to Manipur for operational duties , officials said on Sunday, as part of an expanded security response to the ongoing ethnic conflict in the state.

The decision has been cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after a proposal from the Central Reserve Police Force. The deployment comes against the backdrop of continued ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities , which erupted on May 3, 2023, and has since left over 260 people dead and more than 60,000 displaced , according to earlier official and independent estimates.

Officials said CoBRA battalions 207 (West Bengal) and 210 (Assam) will be moved in phases over the coming weeks and will be assigned targeted counter-insurgency and intelligence-based operations in sensitive and forested hill areas where armed groups are active.

The CoBRA units are expected to operate in coordination with the Assam Rifles, CRPF, and state police forces , focusing on preventing ambushes, dismantling armed networks, and improving mobility along conflict corridors that have remained volatile since the outbreak of violence.

Security sources said the deployment is part of a broader redeployment strategy of central armed police forces , as pressure from the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) theatre has reduced significantly in several states. CoBRA units, originally raised in 2008–09 for anti-Naxal operations, are now being gradually reassigned to other internal security hotspots, including the Northeast.

Officials also noted that the situation in Manipur remains fragile, with buffer zones still in place between valley and hill districts , intermittent incidents of violence, and continuing recovery challenges more than three years after the initial clashes.

Reports have also highlighted ongoing concerns such as missing persons cases, arms recovery operations, and sporadic militant activity , underscoring the continued need for specialised jungle warfare units in the region.

The CoBRA force currently has ten battalions, each comprising around 1,000 personnel trained in jungle warfare, guerrilla tactics, and intelligence-led operations . Officials said the units have played a key role in anti-Naxal campaigns across central India, contributing to a sharp decline in Maoist activity in recent years.