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Violence Escalates in Manipur: Five Killed Amid Ethnic Clashes
At least five people, including a civilian, have been killed in the latest round of clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur.
ND
by News Desk
2024-09-07
Violence Escalates in Manipur: Five Killed Amid Ethnic Clashes

At least five people, including one civilian, have been killed as violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The clashes, which have been ongoing for over a year, intensified on Saturday in the district of Jiribam, located on India’s border with Myanmar.

 

The conflict has been fueled by tensions over economic benefits, government jobs, and education quotas. A recent court order mandating the state government to extend benefits enjoyed by the Kukis to the Meitei community has further exacerbated the situation.

 

According to Krishna Kumar, deputy commissioner of Jiribam, the violence began early in the morning with armed groups from both communities engaging in a gunfight. The Press Trust of India reported that one civilian was shot while sleeping, and four armed individuals were killed in subsequent exchanges of fire. Police responding to the incident were fired upon by suspected Kuki militants but successfully repelled the attack.

 

Manipur, with a population of 3.2 million, has been effectively divided into two enclaves since the ethnic conflict began in May 2023. The Meitei-dominated valley and the Kuki-controlled hills are separated by a no-man’s land monitored by federal paramilitary forces.

 

The escalating violence has led the state government to close all schools on Saturday to ensure the safety of students and teachers. The conflict has also seen the use of drones to drop explosive devices, a significant escalation according to authorities. The Indian Express reported that these devices were "improvised projectiles" made from galvanized iron pipes and explosives.

 

While police suspect that Kuki armed groups are using the drones, the group has denied the allegations. Since the outbreak of violence, more than 225 people have been killed and approximately 60,000 have been displaced.
Tagged:

EthnicTensions

ManipurViolence

IndiaConflict

Jiribam
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