GUWAHATI: One person was shot dead and houses were set on fire as fresh ethnic violence erupted in India’s restive northeastern state of Manipur, officials said on Thursday.

Manipur has been on the boil after an explosion of inter-ethnic violence this month killed at least 70 people and left tens of thousands displaced. Some 2,000 houses were also burned down across the state that borders Myanmar.

The violence was sparked by anger among the Kuki tribal group at the prospect of the majority Meitei community being given guaranteed quotas of government jobs and other perks in a form of affirmative action.

This also stoked long-held fears among the Kuki that the Meitei might also be allowed to acquire land in areas

currently reserved for them and other tribal groups.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2023