Manipur: Army, police step up security so farmers can harvest safely

Security forces in Manipur have tightened arrangements around farmland in Imphal East district so that farmers can harvest their paddy without fear of attacks during the ongoing season.

The Indian Army, working with the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Manipur Police, has strengthened security around agricultural fields in Moirangpurel village, EastMojo reported on Wednesday, November 11. The Sentinel said the stepped-up deployment, led by the Army's Spear Corps, also covers the Yaingangpokpi area of the district.

What the forces are doing

According to the Army, the measures include sustained area domination and coordinated deployment of personnel around the fields. The Sentinel quoted officials as saying patrols, area sanitisation and quick reaction teams were being used to give villagers the confidence to go to their paddy fields and bring in their crops.

The Army said the security presence had helped villagers move freely and carry on with routine farming and livelihood work. It described the effort as a way to build confidence among farmers, strengthen civil-military ties and support the return of normalcy in the area.

Why harvest security matters in Manipur

Since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in May 2023, farmland along the foothills where the Imphal valley meets the surrounding hills has repeatedly become a flashpoint. Farmers in several such fringe areas have reported being unable to reach or work their fields because of firing, and security forces have provided cover during the sowing and harvest seasons in earlier years as well.

Paddy is the main crop for valley farmers, and the October-November harvest is critical for household incomes and the state's food supply.

The deployment comes as Manipur prepares for Assembly elections due early next year. Security forces have carried out a series of operations across the state in recent weeks, including the defusing of 27 improvised explosive devices along a stretch in Kamjong district, The Sentinel reported.

NEInsider will update this story if there are any reports of disruption to harvesting in the fringe areas.