India: Violence flares again in Manipur, at least four dead including two children

At least four people have been killed in a new outbreak of violence in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, ending several months of relative calm in the region already marked by strong communal tensions.

Two children from the predominantly Hindu Meitei community were killed in a bomb explosion at a house in the Bishnupur district, according to local authorities. The incident has reignited tensions between the Meitei and the Kuki groups, who are mainly Christian and have been at odds since 2023.

Later that day, law enforcement opened fire to disperse a crowd that had stormed a security camp. Two people were killed during the operation, according to the state's Interior Minister, Govindas Konthoujam.

Intercommunal violence in Manipur has already claimed around 260 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people since it began in May 2023. Demands for economic benefits and job quotas are at the heart of the conflict.

Following the children's deaths, members of the Meitei community accused Kuki militants of being responsible for the attack, a charge the Kuki deny. This latest escalation raises fears of a prolonged resumption of fighting in this volatile region of India.