Indian police have detained 33 individuals following a recent surge in ethnic violence in Manipur state, where a curfew and internet blackout have been enforced. The unrest, which began in May 2023 between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the mainly Christian Kuki community, has claimed at least 200 lives.
After several months of relative calm, new clashes erupted this month, resulting in at least 11 additional deaths. The recent violence has seen insurgents using rockets and drones to drop bombs, marking a “significant escalation” in the conflict, according to police.
The Manipur Police have also apprehended seven juveniles in connection with the unrest. They have called for public cooperation to restore peace and normalcy.
In response to the violence, authorities have imposed an internet shutdown similar to one that lasted for months last year, and have instituted a curfew. However, many residents in the state capital, Imphal, defied the curfew.
Protesters from the Meitei community marched through Imphal, demanding action against Kuki insurgent groups whom they blame for the recent attacks. The longstanding tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities involve competition over land and public jobs.
Rights activists have criticized local leaders for exacerbating ethnic divisions for political purposes. Manipur, ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, has seen approximately 60,000 people displaced by the violence last year, many of whom have yet to return to their homes.
