Manipur: Ethnic clashes have erupted once again in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, where fresh fighting between two tribes has resulted in the deaths of 5 individuals.
According to a report by Al Jazeera, officials stated that the latest ethnic clashes in Manipur began on Saturday in the Jiribam district near the Myanmar border, involving an exchange of gunfire between the two tribes.
Jiribam Deputy Commissioner Krishna Kumar reported that the gunfire between the tribes started on Saturday morning and continues to this day.
According to an Indian news agency, one civilian was killed while sleeping, and the other four fatalities were armed individuals who were killed in the exchange of fire.
The police stated that an officer attempting to halt the attacks was allegedly fired upon by the Kuki tribe, but the police team effectively responded and thwarted the attack.
In response to the escalating tension, the state government has announced the closure of all schools to protect students and teachers from any potential danger.
The recent wave of ethnic violence in Manipur began earlier this week, and attacks have included the use of drones to deploy explosive materials, further exacerbating the situation.
The Indian Express reported, citing security sources, that rockets containing explosive materials wrapped in iron pipes were used.
The police suspect that the Kuki armed group employed the drones, though the group has denied this claim.
It is worth noting that the ethnic violence in the 3.2 million-population state of Manipur began in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki tribes over issues related to economic benefits, government jobs, and educational quotas.
The court had ordered the state government to extend the benefits enjoyed by the Kuki tribe to the Meitei tribe as well, which further intensified the tension.
Since the onset of the violence in 2023, the state is divided into two corridors: the Meitei-majority valley and the Kuki-controlled hill areas.
Federal paramilitary forces have been deployed at the locations separating the Meitei and Kuki areas, and access is restricted.
Over the past year, ethnic violence in Manipur has resulted in over 225 deaths and displaced 60,000 individuals.