India, Nov 20 (Alliance News): The ongoing ethnic violence in the Indian state of Manipur has claimed 16 more lives, bringing the death toll to over 200 as tensions between the majority Meitei tribes and the minority Kuki tribe escalate.
In response to the worsening situation, the Indian government has decided to deploy an additional 5,000 soldiers to restore order.
The deadly clashes, fueled by a court ruling granting official tribal status to the Meitei community, have intensified in recent months, with the Kuki tribe strongly opposing the decision.
The violence, which has been ongoing for 18 months, has displaced more than 60,000 people. Last week, the bodies of 10 Kuki tribesmen were recovered from Jiri Bam district, with allegations that they were tortured and killed by the police.
In response to the chaos, authorities have imposed a curfew, suspended internet services, and increased the military presence in the region.
However, human rights activists argue that local political leaders, with the support of the Modi government, are exacerbating the conflict for political gain and that the government has failed to protect its citizens.
Critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government claim that, despite the deployment of modern military and intelligence resources, the government has failed to bring the violence under control and has not engaged in meaningful dialogue to address the root causes of the conflict.
