Imphal, April 19 -- Manipur continues to face a significant security challenge, with a shortfall of over 7,000 personnel required to maintain law and order despite the deployment of more than 34,000 security personnel, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference in Imphal, the minister said the ongoing ethnic tensions have created a fragile security environment, necessitating additional and specialised forces.

He informed that out of 272 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployed across the state, 88 companies have already been withdrawn for election duties in West Bengal, with another 15 companies scheduled to be pulled out, taking the total number of withdrawn units to 103.

Howeve...