Clashes between rebels and Indian security forces have resulted in the deaths of dozens of people in the remote northeastern state of Manipur. Since the May 3 escalation of inter-ethnic violence, the state has been on edge over proposed economic quotas for the ethnic majority Meitei people. Hundreds were slain and thousands were uprooted as a result of the violence. At least 40 rebels were slain in a crackdown, Chief Minister N Biren Singh informed reporters on Sunday. He also noted that two police officers had lost their lives during the preceding two days of disturbance.
Terrorists have been targeting people with M-16s, AK-47s, and sniper rifles. “They came to many villages and burned down homes,” Singh was reported as saying by local media. With the support of the army and other security agencies, we have begun taking extremely serious action against them. Singh was cited as adding, “We have received reports that some 40 terrorists have been shot dead.” Located between Bangladesh, China, and Myanmar, the remote regions of northeast India have a history of racial strife. Thousands of paramilitary and army forces were dispatched from New Delhi to the state, which has a population of 3.2 million. After violence broke out between the majority Meitei, who are primarily Hindu and dwell in and around the state capital Imphal, and the primarily Christian Kuki tribe from the surrounding hills, the government enforced a curfew.
The area’s mobile data connection has been out for weeks. Meitei gangs are blamed for destroying several villages and churches belonging to the Kuki people, who are thought to account for the vast majority of the casualties. However, in some regions, Kukis also attacked Meitei. Affirmative action in the form of quotas for government positions and other benefits for the Meitei angered the Kuki, setting the stage for the subsequent violence. For the Kuki, this confirmed their worst suspicions that the Meitei would be permitted to purchase property in places that are traditionally designated for them and other indigenous peoples.
