9 killed in fresh violence in India’s northeastern state of Manipur

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) - At least nine people were killed in a fresh gunfight in northeastern India's Manipur state overnight, police said on Wednesday.

“The suspected militants attacked the villagers in the Khamenlok area at night. They were heavily armed,” Shivkanta Singh, a senior police official in Imphal East district, told Anadolu.

He confirmed that 10 others were injured in the attack and they were admitted to hospital.

After the attack, authorities in Imphal East and Imphal West districts have decided to tighten curfew hours.

The curfew has still been in force in 11 districts of the state. Authorities have also suspended internet services across Manipur.

The attack was believed to have been carried out by suspected Kuki militants, an ethnic tribe in Manipur and Mizoram states who are alleged to be receiving help from Myanmar and demanding a separate Kukiland.

At least 100 people have lost their lives in ethnic violence between Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur since May 3, according to officials.

Thousands of people have been displaced by ethnic violence in the state, forcing them to flee to neighboring Mizoram.

On May 4, the army was called in to assist law enforcement after a curfew was imposed in eight districts of Manipur following violence that erupted during protests against the inclusion of the Meitei community in the scheduled tribes category, giving them some special privileges.