India: Violence Erupts in Manipur, Five Dead

Fresh clashes in Manipur, India, have resulted in the deaths of at least five people amid ongoing violence between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the mainly Christian Kuki community, Arab News reported yesterday. The latest violence occurred in Jiribam district, near the Myanmar border, where one individual was shot while sleeping, and four others died in a subsequent exchange of fire.

Schools across the state were closed following a rocket attack that killed a 78-year-old man and injured six others. Authorities reported that the rockets appeared to be improvised projectiles. This escalation follows previous incidents, including a drone attack that killed a 31-year-old woman and wounded six others.

The conflict, which has persisted for over a year, stems from competition for land and public jobs, exacerbated by local leaders for political gain. Rights activists warn that the ongoing violence has deepened ethnic divisions within the region.