NEW DELHI: Fresh violence has erupted in India’s northeastern state of Manipur, where at least three people were killed in a gun battle between rival ethnic groups, according to police officials.
The latest clashes occurred in Mullam village in Ukhrul district, where an intense exchange of fire left three men dead.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the victims belonged to the predominantly Hindu Meitei community or the mainly Christian Kuki group. Security forces have since tightened control in the area, with operations ongoing to prevent further escalation.
Manipur has been gripped by ethnic unrest for nearly three years, with tensions between the Meitei majority and Kuki minority centered on disputes over land ownership and access to government jobs.
The conflict has claimed more than 250 lives and displaced around 60,000 people since violence first surged in 2023. Although the situation had somewhat stabilized, recent incidents suggest tensions remain volatile. Earlier this month, four people—including two children—were killed in an attack attributed to a Kuki group, followed by a retaliatory mob assault by Meitei protesters on a paramilitary camp.
Meanwhile, a separate development saw 249 members of the Bnei Menashe community from Manipur and Mizoram arrive in Tel Aviv. The group, which claims ancestral ties to ancient Israel, migrated under a renewed initiative supported by the Government of Israel to resettle thousands of its members.
The Bnei Menashe trace their origins through a long migration across regions including Persia, Afghanistan, Tibet, and China, maintaining certain Jewish traditions. However, many were later converted to Christianity during the 19th century under missionary influence in India.
