Indian security forces have killed at least 30 “militants” in Manipur state following weeks of ethnic violence.
Another 25 armed men were arrested while preparing to carry out an attack, the army said on Monday.
Clashes in the remote north-eastern state between the largely Hindu Meitei community and Kuki tribal people, who are mainly Christian, broke out over the state government's moves to confer special rights to the Meiteis. At least 75 people have died and about 35,000 have been displaced since May 3.
Manipur chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh on Sunday said that militants had been killing people with AK-47 assault and sniper rifles and that insurgents had been responsible for burning down houses in many villages on the periphery of Imphal valley, the state’s power centre, in the past two days.
“In retaliatory and defensive operations against these terrorist groups, who are using sophisticated arms against the civilian population, around 30 of these terrorists have been killed in different areas. A few have also been arrested by the security forces,” Mr Singh told reporters.
“We have started taking very strong action against them with the help of the army and other security forces. The spurt in violent attacks on civilian houses in the peripheral areas of the valley seemed well-planned.”
The army said 25 men were arrested in Imphal on Sunday after patrols in the area were fired upon. Another three were arrested on Sunday carrying an assault rifle, 60 rounds of ammunition, a hand grenade and a detonator, it added.
The government has imposed a curfew and suspended internet services in the majority of Manipur's 16 districts.
The region has a history of armed insurgency and incidents of militants from both sides targeting each other have been reported across the state.
Mr Singh said the attacks were condemnable amid peace parleys between the warring groups and the government.
Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah was scheduled to arrive in Manipur on Monday for a four-day visit to assess to the situation. He is expected to hold several rounds of security meetings and meet representatives from civil society groups.
Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande visited the state at the weekend to review the law and order situation.
The state, which borders Myanmar and is strewn with hills and valleys, is governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
About 34 tribes, roughly 40 per cent population, have traditionally inhabited the areas that comprise 90 per cent of the land.
The Meiteis, who make up more than half of the population and dominate the valley areas, are confined to only 10 per cent of the land mass.
They have long demanded to be recognised as a tribe so that they get exclusive land rights and job benefits enjoyed by other tribal groups.
Many groups oppose this, saying the Meiteis already dominate the demographic, political and social landscape of the state.
Kuki insurgent groups have accused the state government of backing Meiteis, and have demanded a separate state for the tribes.
Mr Singh said his government was “deeply saddened” by the casualties from the violence and was taking all possible steps to restore normality.
He appealed to all communities to have faith in his government, saying it would not allow the “disintegration of Manipur” and would “uproot these armed terrorists from the state”.
