60 armoured units among 477 new vehicles added to Manipur police fleet

Guwahati

The police in the conflict-scarred Manipur on Monday (May 25, 2026) became the possessor of one of the largest fleets of armoured vehicles among police forces across the country.

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh flagged off 477 newly acquired vehicles of the State police at the 1st Battalion of the Manipur Rifles in Imphal under the Assistance to States for Modernisation of Police scheme.

The fleet includes 60 bulletproof Rakshak vehicles, 10 mine-protected vehicles, and five heavy machine repair vehicles. This is the largest fleet of such battle-ready vehicles for any police force in the northeastern region, and one of the largest in the country.

“These vehicles will greatly help in improving police infrastructure in the hill districts and strengthen emergency response capabilities across the State. Without strengthening the police force, no State or country can maintain peace and security,” the Chief Minister said.

The State police, along with the armed forces, have been battling a series of ethnic conflicts involving many communities since May 3, 2023.

Mr. Singh said the Ministry of Home Affairs approved ₹196.61 crore on October 31, 2025, for police modernisation initiatives in Manipur, especially as the personnel have been undertaking risky operations to prevent conflict and maintain peace.

Thanking the Army, Assam Rifles, and other paramilitary forces for their continued support in maintaining law and order in the State, he said the government has also increased allowances of police personnel. He added that the ration money had remained unchanged for a long time.

The Chief Minister appealed to people to discourage violence and provocative activities during agitations and rallies, urging all sections to support peace and harmony in the State.

State Home Minister Govindas Khothoujam said the event reflected the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to strengthening police and security forces across the country.

“The newly acquired vehicles will significantly improve mobility, efficiency, and response capability of the Manipur Police during emergencies and other important situations,” he said, calling upon the police personnel to be people-friendly.

He said cooperation from the public would go a long way in strengthening intelligence gathering and help the authorities anticipate and prevent subversive incidents.

Director General of Police Rajiv Singh said 54% of the newly acquired vehicles would be allocated to the hill districts and 46% to the valley districts.

Highlighting the achievements of the Manipur police, he said 1,000 people have been arrested after the establishment of the Anti-Extortion Cell. “More than 700 people have been arrested and 600 cases registered under the anti-drug campaign,” he said.