In a renewed wave of violence, six people, including one civilian, lost their lives on Saturday as clashes intensified between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, authorities confirmed.
The Manipur state government has responded by ordering the closure of all schools in a bid to prevent further escalation. The recent clash marks the deadliest day in a week-long series of conflicts, which stem from a longstanding dispute over economic benefits and quotas in education and government jobs.
The conflict, which has been simmering since last year, was reignited by a court order directing the state government to consider extending the special privileges currently enjoyed by the Kuki tribal community to the Meitei majority as well.
In a significant escalation, police reported the use of drones to drop explosive devices during the latest incident. Authorities suspect that Kuki militants were behind the drone attack, though Kuki groups have denied these allegations.
“Fighting has been ongoing between armed groups from both communities since the morning,” said Krishna Kumar, the deputy commissioner of Jiribam district, where the clash occurred. He added that the civilian casualty occurred when the victim was shot while asleep in his room.
The ethnic strife in Manipur, a state with a population of 3.2 million, has deepened since the conflict erupted in May 2023. The state is now sharply divided along ethnic lines, with the Meiteis controlling the valley regions and the Kuki community dominating the hilly areas. These zones are separated by a no-man’s land monitored by federal paramilitary forces.
Earlier this month, violence in Imphal West district led to two deaths and several injuries. The situation escalated further when a rocket fired by militants struck the house of a former chief minister in Bishnupur district, killing a 78-year-old man and injuring six others.
Since the onset of this ethnic conflict, over 225 lives have been lost, and approximately 60,000 people have been displaced, highlighting the severe toll of the ongoing violence in Manipur.
