One dead in strife-torn India's Manipur after renewed unrest

GUWAHATI, INDIA: At least one person died in the past 24 hours in the India's strife-torn state of Manipur as the ethnic unrest enters third day, said a government official on Monday. 

The development comes after fresh spate of violence gripped the state over the last week, part of the long-standing strife between its ethnic Kuki and Meitei communities. 

The bloodshed between the communities has resulted in the deaths of 250 people while 60,000 others have faced displacement in the region since May last year.

Late on Sunday night, Meitei residents in the Jiribam district took to the streets, vandalising properties in response to recent killings of women and children from its community, a state government official said.

"Some protesters were trying to vandalise properties, including the offices of (national) political parties BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and Congress," said the official, who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, adding that one protester had "died in a police action".

Tensions flared anew last week when a 31-year-old Kuki woman was burned alive. Kuki groups blamed Meitei militants.

An indefinite curfew was imposed on Saturday and internet and mobile services have been suspended until at least November 20 after protesters tried to storm the residences of several lawmakers including Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh.

Kukis accuse Singh, a Meitei and member of India's ruling BJP, of complicity in the violence against them and have sought his removal. Singh denies the accusations.