Police authorities in the Indian state of Manipur reported an incident on Thursday wherein a group of protestors attempted to storm and vandalize the residence of the state’s Chief Minister. Security forces responded with tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd, injuring ten people. The incident occurred during a curfew that was imposed on Wednesday. Police imposed the curfew after student protests against security forces about the alleged abduction and subsequent murder of two students.
Demonstrators also focused on the residence of the local parliamentary representative. Authorities responded by disconnecting electricity supply in the vicinity, in an attempt to minimize the visibility of protestors.
Manipur has grappled with a series of violent ethnic clashes between the predominantly Hindu Kuki tribe and the Christian Meitei tribe since May. The region also experienced an internet ban lasting nearly five months, which was initially lifted but subsequently reinstated. Police say that the situation has escalated to become extremely tense. Recently, groups threw petrol bombs at two police facilities.
More than 180 individuals have lost their lives since the start of the conflict, and over 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. Human Rights Watch has slammed the Manipur authorities, accusing them of contributing to the conflict by promoting divisive policies that endorse Hindu nationalism.