Mon Nov 18 02:58:54 UTC 2024: ## Manipur Violence Escalates After Discovery of Six Bodies; 23 Arrested

**Imphal, Manipur –** Tensions in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur soared over the weekend following the discovery of six bodies believed to be members of the Meitei community, leading to widespread protests and the arrest of 23 people. The protestors, demanding accountability for the killings, ransacked and set fire to the homes of lawmakers and ministers in the state capital, Imphal. Police responded with tear gas, injuring eight people, and imposed an indefinite curfew alongside a suspension of internet and mobile services.

The discovery of the six bodies, recovered on Friday, follows the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Hindu Meitei and Christian Kuki communities that began in May 2023. This violence has already claimed at least 250 lives and displaced over 60,000 people. The violence continued into Sunday with the discovery of more bodies; a woman and two-year-old child, believed to be from a missing Meitei family, were found in a river, and the body of a Kuki man was also recovered. While the cause of death for the Kuki man is yet to be determined, authorities suggest a possible link to the ongoing violence.

The situation is further complicated by the recent burning alive of a 31-year-old Kuki woman, an incident Kuki groups blame on Meitei rebels. A senior police official described the situation as “relatively calm but unpredictable.” Additional security forces have been deployed to the region.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Manipur, highlighting the government’s perceived failure to address the prolonged violence. This call for action comes as the National People’s Party (NPP), an ally of the ruling BJP, withdrew its support from the state government, citing Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s inability to resolve the crisis. The conflict has effectively divided Manipur into two ethnic enclaves – the Meitei-controlled valley and the Kuki-dominated hills – with internet services having been shut down for extended periods during the crisis.

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