Internet and mobile data services were suspended for five days and an indefinite curfew was imposed in certain areas of India's northeastern state of Manipur on Tuesday, following violent student protests over ongoing ethnic tensions. After a brief period of calm, clashes erupted between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities on September 1, with some incidents involving the use of drones to drop explosive devices, resulting in civilian casualties. Police suspect that the drones were deployed by Kuki militants, a claim that has been refuted by Kuki groups.
Hundreds of Meitei students took to the streets on Monday to protest against the drone attacks, demanding a change in the leadership of the state's 'unified command' responsible for security. Protesters hurled stones and plastic bottles at the main gate of the state governor's residence, according to a police statement. Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowds, resulting in about 45 protesters sustaining minor injuries, according to a police officer.
As the protests continued into Tuesday, the local government imposed a curfew in the Imphal Valley and surrounding districts, and suspended internet services in five valley districts. Government and private colleges in the state, which shares a border with Myanmar, will also remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday, as per a government order. Authorities had previously shut down the internet in Manipur last year, marking one of India's longest enforced outages.
In the Thoubal district on Monday, police reported that a large mob 'overpowered personnel on duty', seized arms, and fired at the police. 'We are using minimum force as a preventive measure to control the crowd,' a police official stated, adding that the situation had been brought under control. Since the outbreak of violence last year, at least 225 people have died and approximately 60,000 have been displaced due to disputes between the Meitei and Kuki communities over the sharing of economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education allocated to the tribal Kukis.
Manipur's government is led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Neither Modi nor the BJP has commented on the recent violence in the state.
