At least 50 people have been injured in fierce clashes with police in Imphal, the capital city of India's northeastern state of Manipur, according to Report, which cites The Hindu.
The violence erupted when police attempted to halt a student march towards the local legislative assembly building. The march was held in defiance of a curfew imposed by authorities on Tuesday in several districts, amid escalating inter-ethnic tensions and protests in the region. The curfew restricts residents' movement outside their homes and prohibits gatherings of five or more people.
Manipur has been grappling with heightened tensions since May 2023, triggered by demands from the Meitei tribe migrants for the status of a "Scheduled Caste." This status confers various privileges, including preferential access to government jobs and higher education. However, the demand has sparked outrage among the Kuki tribe, which constitutes 56% of the state's population.
In early May 2023, Kuki organizations staged a protest march that subsequently devolved into clashes. The violence has claimed at least 237 lives so far, while more than 59,000 people have been displaced.