GUWAHATI: On Saturday, six people, including one civilian, were killed as renewed violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki ethnic communities in Manipur, a state in northeast India. The clashes, which have been ongoing since last year, have resulted in over 225 deaths and displaced around 60,000 people.
The conflict intensified after a court directed the state government to consider extending the special economic benefits and quotas enjoyed by the Kuki community to the Meiteis as well. The recent violence marks the deadliest single day since the latest outbreak began a week ago. Authorities have reported the use of drones to drop explosive devices, a significant escalation in the conflict.
Police suspect that Kuki militants are behind the drone attacks, a claim that Kuki groups have denied. “Fighting has been ongoing between armed groups from both communities since the morning,” said Krishna Kumar, deputy commissioner of Jiribam district, where the clashes occurred. According to reports, the civilian was killed in his sleep.
In response to the violence, all schools in Manipur have been ordered to close. The state, with a population of 3.2 million, remains divided into Meitei-controlled valleys and Kuki-dominated hills, separated by a no-man’s land monitored by federal paramilitary forces. Recent incidents include the deaths of two people in Imphal West and a 78-year-old man killed by a rocket attack in Bishnupur district.
