India: 6 dead after violence between ethnic communities in Manipur escalates

Six people, including a civilian, lost their lives afterclashes eruptedbetween two rival ethnic groups,majority Meitei community and the tribal Kukis in Manipur, a state in northeastern India, on Saturday (September 07), officials reported. This incident marks the highest number of deaths in a single day since the recent wave of violence began a week ago.

"Fighting has been going on between armed groups of both the communities since the morning," said Krishna Kumar, deputy commissioner of Jiribam district, according to Reuters.

Media reports claimed that the civilian was killed while asleep. "He was fired upon in his room itself," Kumar told Reuters, adding that security forces were sent in to bring the situation under control.

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One dead after militantsattack former CM's house

Militants in India's north eastern state, Manipur launched rocket attacks in two locations on Friday (September 06), one of which targeted the residence of the state’s first chief minister in Bishnupur district. This assault resulted in death of a priest who was preparing for religious rituals. Five people were also injured in the incident.

First recorded use of rockets in Manipur conflict

This incident marks the first recorded use of rockets in Manipur since conflict broke out 17 months ago, according to officials. It follows just six days after drones were reportedly used for the first time in the region.

Rocketfired at the former CM Mairembam Koireng Singh’s home

As per Hindustan Times, officials said that the rocket was fired at the former chief minister Mairembam Koireng Singh’s home in Moirang around 3:30 PM, using an improvised launcher. The projectile struck within the premises of former chief minister's home, landing only a few metres from his house.

It killed 72-year-old RK Rabei Singh, a priest preparing for a religious ceremony, and injured five of the ex-chief minister’s relatives, including a 13-year-old girl. Earlier the same day, security forces reported a second rocket attack, which hit two buildings in Tronglaobi village at around 4:00 AM.

Mairembam Koireng Singh served as Manipur’s chief minister during three separate terms between 1963 and 1969, passing away in 1994.

Manipur unrest: Militants adopt new tactics, weaponise drones

Manipur has seen ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities since May 3 last year. Since September 01, the conflict has escalated, with militants adopting new tactics, including the use of drones and rockets.

Chief minister N Biren Singh condemned the deployment of drones, calling them “acts of terrorism” and said that security forces were working to eliminate their use.

In response to the unrest, the Manipur government issued a notice saying that all government, private, and central schools would remain closed on September 7 due to safety concerns for students and teachers.

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a key organisation representing the Meitei community, declared a "public emergency" across five districts in the Imphal Valley.

“The government can no longer be trusted to safeguard the public. People must now take their safety into their own hands,” COCOMI said in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)