Six people killed in Manipur India as ethnic violence increases

New Delhi: At least six people have been killed on Saturday in the ethnic violence erupted between two groups in northeast Indian state Manipur, claimed authorities.

Since a court ordered the state government to examine extending special economic privileges and quotas in government jobs and education enjoyed by the Kukis to the Meiteis as well, there have been occasional conflicts between the predominantly Meitei community and the tribal Kukis.

There have been around 225 deaths and about 60,000 displaced persons.

In the most recent wave of violence that started a week ago, Saturday's gunshot incident reflects the highest number of casualties for a single day. In what the authorities have dubbed a major escalation, drones were also used to drop explosive devices during the strikes earlier this week.

Kuki organizations reject the police's allegation that Kuki militants used the drones.

According to Krishna Kumar, deputy commissioner of the state's Jiribam district, where the conflict took place, "fighting has been going on between armed groups of both the communities since the morning."

Indian media reports state that the civilian was shot and killed while he slept. Kumar told Reuters, "He was fired upon in his room itself," and that security personnel had been sent in to maintain control of the situation.

The state of Manipur has ordered that all schools remain closed on Saturday.

Manipur, a state of 3.2 million people, has been split into two ethnic enclaves since the battle started in May 2023: the Kuki-dominated mountains and the Meitei-controlled valleys. A section of no-man's land kept under observation by government paramilitary soldiers divides the areas.

In the Imphal West valley district on September 1, there were multiple injuries and two casualties. Police claimed on Friday that a "long-range rocket" fired by militants later in the week crashed on the home of a former chief minister in the valley's Bishnupur district, killing a 78-year-old man and injuring six others.