Manipur Violence: Death Toll rises to 60, 200 Injured

Imphal, May 8: The death toll in ethnic violence and clashes in Northeastern Manipur has risen to 60, according to Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh on Monday advised people to exercise restraint and maintain peace. Singh said that a high-level inquiry will be conducted to hold those responsible for the violence.

According to veteran journalist Bharat Bhushan, “Churches, homes and other properties belonging to Kuki tribals were burnt down in clashes with the majority Meitei community.”

“A police armoury has been looted, and both sides are using snatched weapons. More than 50 individuals have lost their lives. There is a danger that the ethnic violence may spread to neighbouring states – non-Meiteis are evacuating Imphal. These are more than adequate indicators of the state government’s failure,” Bhushan wrote in his column for Business Standard.

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister in his first public reaction to the ethnic clashes expressed gratitude to India’s federal Home Minister Amit Shah for “monitoring the situation and sending central forces to restore normality at the earliest.”

Unofficially, the death toll in Manipur violence is feared to be more than 100.