INDIA: Dozens of people have died in ethnic conflicts in the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur, where crowds attacked homes, cars, churches, and temples, say officials.
The violence started last week following a protest march conducted by indigenous groups against the state’s dominant ethnic group’s request for tribal recognition.
Since years, members of the Meitei group, who make up 53% of the state’s population, have demanded to be classified as Scheduled Tribes, which would grant them access to forest areas and ensure that they receive a fair share of government employment and admission to educational institutions.
The communities that are already designated as Scheduled Tribes are concerned that if the Meitei’s demand is granted, they may lose sovereignty over their ancestral forest lands, especially the Kukis, who reside in hill districts.
Manipur’s situation was under control, India’s Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday, and he urged the populace to uphold peace. He stated that before making a decision, the Manipur administration would speak with all parties involved.
A curfew has been imposed in several districts, internet access has been shut down, and thousands of troops have been deployed in the state to maintain order. To handle the situation, the state’s governor issued “shoot-on-sight” orders last week in “extreme cases”.
The army announced in a statement on Sunday that more than 23,000 individuals had been rescued and relocated to makeshift shelters. There are a lot of women and kids among the evacuees.
Residents claim that they are concerned about the future. “We don’t feel safe right now,” said L. Sanglun Simte, a resident of Imphal, the state capital. Along with 11 other members of his family, 29-year-old Kuki has been tent camping next to the airport in Imphal.
The army stated on Sunday that there had been a calm in the fighting as soldiers worked “tirelessly for the past 96 hours to rescue civilians across all communities, curb violence, and restore normalcy.”
However, there are still some areas of the state where the situation is tense. Other states have dispatched rescue teams to remove their citizens from Manipur, while locals continue to dwell in army shelters.
For the evacuees, certain states, like Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, have organised special planes.
The violence started on Wednesday. In Imphal and neighbouring regions, mobs burned down homes, businesses, and automobiles.
Videos and pictures captured burning buildings and streets filled with a dense, black haze. The army claims that it is bringing the situation under control.
On Monday, after curfews in the impacted districts were relaxed for a short period of time, people went shopping for food and medications.
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