The death toll from intercommunal violence in the Indian state of Manipur rises to 73

May 15. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The authorities of the Indian state of Manipur have reported that the death toll has risen to 73 people during clashes between communities that have taken place in recent days in the region.

The Chief Minister of Manipur, Nongthombam Biren Singh, has traveled to New Delhi to meet with the Home Minister, Amit Shah, to inform him about the situation between the tribes, whose tensions have escalated this weekend, with the burning of a town in which they would have set fire to more than a dozen houses, reports ‘The Times of India’.

As a result of this situation, added to the suspension of Internet services, more than 5,800 people from Manipur have fled, taking refuge in different districts

An official from the Ministry of the Interior has indicated, on the condition of anonymity, that “the situation is slowly returning to normality”, but that the problem “may deepen the division” and “may trigger more clashes” between the communities, reports NDTV.

Violence erupted earlier this month during a march called by the All Manipur Tribal Students Union (ATSUM) in support of the native Naga and Kuki communities after the authorities launched a move to grant the status of tribe to the metei community, the majority in the Indian stadium.