CRPF destroys 167 illegal bunkers since May 2023

New Delhi: The CRPF has so far destroyed 167 illegal bunkers, nakas and posts set up by armed miscreants across Manipur in the wake of outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023. As many as 37 of these were dismantled in March 2025.

As part of extensive operations in the northeast last month that resulted in substantial recoveries and dismantling of insurgent infrastructure, CRPF quick action teams (QATs) apprehended 17 miscreants in the region, including 13 in Manipur, recovered 242 arms of which Manipur accounted for 240, 1,151 rounds of ammunition, 39 grenades, 78 bombs, 13 rockets, nine IEDs, five detonators, 121 gelatin sticks and 304 kg narcotics, besides wireless sets, magazines and other military equipment.

Of the 167 bunkers/nakas/posts dismantled by the CRPF in Manipur between May 3, 2023 and March 31, 2025, the highest 68, or 22%, were in Kangpokpi district, 40 in Imphal East, 31 in Churachandpur, 14 in Imphal West, seven in Jiribam, four in Senapati and three in Tamenglong.

Last month, CRPF QATs dismantled 37 bunkers, nakas and posts established by armed miscreants, in a total of nine intelligence-based operations. While 30 of these illegal bunkers were located in Kangpokpi district, seven were in Imphal East.

As many as 260 people have died so far in ethnic violence that broke out in Manipur in May 2023. However, no death has been reported in the state for the past four months — a period that saw CM N Biren Singh step down followed by imposition of President's Rule.