India: deadly inter-ethnic clashes in the state of Manipur

The remains of a tanker truck set on fire by tribal groups in Churachandpur, Manipur state, May 4, 2023. REUTERS - STRINGER

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Some 23,000 people have fled ethnic violence in northeastern India and is believed to have left at least 54 people dead, the army said Sunday (May 7th).

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Unrest erupted in Manipur state where a protest march by a tribal group on Wednesday escalated into clashes, in which vehicles and homes were set on fire. Authorities did not give an official toll, but morgues at hospitals in Imphal, the state capital, and Churachandpur said they had received a total of 54 bodies, according to local media.

The army has deployed thousands of troops to the state bordering Burma and has given orders to "shoot on sight" in "extreme cases" to restore calm. Curfews were imposed and the internet was cut off.

No major incidents were reported overnight from Saturday to Sunday and the curfew was lifted in Churachandpur district, one of the main areas of tension, the army said in a statement.

Decades of ethnic violence

The military said it had significantly stepped up its aerial surveillance efforts in the past 24 hours. "A total of 23,000 civilians have been rescued so far and have been transferred to our team bases or military garrisons," she said.

Tribal groups are unhappy with the prospect of the majority Meitei community in the state being recognized as a "scheduled tribe," a designation that would give them access to a quota of civil service jobs and university places under a policy of affirmative action.

Northeast India has seen decades of unrest between ethnic groups and separatists, seeking more autonomy and even secession. At least 50,000 people have been killed in Manipur since the 1950s. These conflicts have eased over the years, with many groups striking deals with New Delhi to gain more power.

(

With AFP)

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