New new ethnic violence has engulfed India’s Manipur state, leading authorities to enforce a curfew in many districts.
In addition to the lockdown, the government suspended internet and mobile data services for five days.
The violence started following the arrest of five people, including a top commander of the extremist Meitei faction Arambai Tenggol. Enraged over the arrests, protesters staged protests in the state capital city Imphal, attacking a police post, burning a bus, and obstructing main roads.
The authorities retaliated by imposing curfew expeditiously in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching districts under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code.
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In order to prevent the situation from getting out of hand, security personnel in Manipur have been deployed in affected areas, while the Home Ministry has also affirmed that services like VSAT and VPNs are suspended during this critical time.
This new wave of violence stems from a long history of ethnic conflict between the Hindu Meitei and Christian Kuki communities. These conflicts have tormented Manipur for the last two years, taking the lives of more than 250 and displacing over 60,000 individuals. The majority of the displaced are still unable to return to their residences because ongoing threats and instability continue to affect them.
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The Arambai Tenggol group, blamed for mobilizing violence against the Kuki people, has now declared a 10-day shutdown of all valley districts in response to the arrests. Human rights activists alert that though the conflict initially arose from matters of land rights and government employment quotas, political agendas are now fueling the rift.
According to authorities, Manipur’s security forces are in high alert and keeping a close eye on the situation to avoid further escalation. Yet, until the current tensions ease, it remains uncertain how peace can be established in the region.
