Ethnic Violence in India Causes 50 Die, Tens of Thousands Displaced

VIVA – More than 50 people have reportedly been killed and some 23,000 people displaced, most of them sheltering in army camps, in ethnic violence in India's northeastern state of Manipur, according to military officials.

This ethnic violence started on Wednesday after a protest march organized by the Kuki tribal group sparked clashes with the Meitei non-tribal group resulting in widespread damage to vehicles and properties. 

The Meitei ethnic group is a predominantly Hindu community that mostly lives in the capital city of Imphal and accounts for more than 50 percent of the population of the state of Manipur, which has a total population of 3.5 million according to 2011 Indian census data.

The Naga and Kuki ethnic groups are two minority ethnic groups who are mostly Christian and account for about 40 percent of Manipur's population. These ethnic groups have the status of 'Scheduled Tribe' which gives them ownership rights to land and local hills and forests.

Most members of this ethnic group live in the hilly areas of Manipur. Some members of the Meitei ethnic group also live in the hilly areas, although most live in the lowlands of Manipur.

The status of 'Scheduled Tribe' is recognized by the constitution and ethnic groups and tribes that are authorized to hold the status enjoy certain protections.

"It is an affirmative action to ensure marginalized communities are represented and provides reservations and quotas in educational institutions and government jobs," a local journalist Arunabh Saikia, who covers the region explained. 

"Meitei groups claim they are marginalized compared to other mainstream groups," Saikia added.

Moreover, local authorities issued a 'shoot on sight' order on Thursday last week and called for reinforced military deployment to quell the violence in a state long plagued by ethnic violence.

Internet connections were temporarily cut off during the violence last week and curfews were imposed in nine of the state's 16 districts.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Indian military said there was no 'major violence' overnight and the curfew in Churcahandpur district, one of the hotspots of unrest, had been lifted.

Manipur state authorities have not officially released the death toll in the inter-ethnic riots. However, hospital officials in the city of Imphal said that at least 55 people were killed and as many as 260 others were hospitalized.

The Indian military, in a separate statement, said 23,000 civilians fled the clashes, with some accommodated at military bases and garrisons in the state.