India's Manipur Dilanda Riots Three Days In A Row, One Person Dies

ILLUSTRATION OF UNSPLASH/Gabe Pierce

JAKARTA - One person died in the last 24 hours during the third day of consecutive ethnic unrest in the state of Manipur which is on the border of India.

A country of 3.2 million people, bordering Myanmar, has been hit by a series of new violence over the past week, which is part of a prolonged conflict between ethnic communities of Kuki and Meitei.

Bloodsheds have killed 250 people and displaced 60,000 people in the area since May last year.

On Sunday evening, residents of Meitei in Jiribam district took to the streets, damaging property in response to recent killings of women and children in their community, a state government official said.

Several protesters tried to damage property, including the offices of BJP political parties and Congress, local officials said, who did not wish to be named.

Tensions erupted again last week when a 31-year-old Kuki woman was burned alive. The Kuki group blamed the Meitei militants.

An indefinite curfew was imposed on Saturday and internet and mobile services have been suspended until November 20 after protesters tried to storm the residences of several lawmakers including Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh.

Kukis accused Singh, a Meitei and a member of India's ruling BJP of being involved in violence against them and has asked for his dismissal. Singh denied the allegations.