As authorities in Manipur grappled with the situation on the ground following a fresh wave of ethnic violence, the Centre decided Monday to send another 50 companies of paramilitary forces, comprising more than 5,000 personnel, to the state to restore order.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who cancelled his political programmes in poll-bound Maharashtra Sunday to review the Manipur situation, held another meeting Monday with security officials in North Block and directed that paramilitary forces focus on restoring peace and order in Manipur.

He sent CRPF DG Anish Dayal Singh, who belongs to the Manipur cadre of the IPS, to Imphal to send a ground assessment report and coordinate with the forces there, a source said.

“Senior officers of the security forces are learnt to have been directed to increase the number of security personnel if need be,” the source said.

“An additional 50 companies have been ordered to be rushed to Manipur this week. While 35 units will be drawn from the CRPF, the rest will be from the BSF,” the source said.