NEW DELHI: Indian authorities deployed hundreds of military personnel and cut off internet services to a north-eastern region on Thursday, after the deaths of six people in violent ethnic clashes.

The troops were sent to the state of Manipur, along the border with Myanmar, after a protest march by tribal groups turned violent on Wednesday.

“Curfew has been imposed... situation is tense but is now under control,” Awangbow Newmai, a Manipur government minister, said. He confirmed the death toll.

The state governor on Thursday issued “shoot at sight orders in extreme cases” to local authorities.

Curfew will run for an indefinite period, says minister

“We are working on a war footing with army and paramilitary troopers deployed in strength to defuse any kind of communal clashes, protests, and blockades,” a senior police officer, who sought anonymity, said from the state capital of Imphal.

The Indian defence ministry tweeted that security forces had evacuated at least 7,500 people from areas of the state affected by the violence.

In a social media post, N. Biren Singh, the chief minister of Manipur, pleaded with joined hands for people to maintain peace and harmony, adding that “precious life” had been lost in the clashes.

“We are committed to protect the lives and property of all our people. Long term grievances of different communities will also be suitably addressed in due course in consultation with the people and their representatives,” Singh said.

Tuesday’s march in the Churachandpur district was called by a students’ union, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM), to protest against a demand by the majority, non-tribal Meitei community for the status of a Scheduled Tribe (ST).

Under Indian law, members of such tribes are given reserved quotas for government jobs and college admissions as a form of affirmative action to address structural inequality and discrimination.

“The situation is tense but we are trying to engage community leaders in a dialogue process,” the district magistrate in the area, Sharath Chandra, said.

That would help bring the situation under control, in addition to security measures taken to deter violence, he added.

Television channels broadcast images of both tribes, who make up about 40 per cent of the state’s population of 3.6 million, and Meiteis burning tyres on roads and setting fire to some houses in parts of the state.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2023