NEW DELHI, India - Ethnic clashes over the past few days in India's Manipur state bordering Myanmar have killed dozens of people, local media reported on Saturday.
The Indian army has deployed additional forces to bring calm to the northeastern state, where tensions between the tribal and non-tribal communities led to widespread arson and killings.
Thousands of people have fled to safer places from the violent-hit districts.
The tensions flared after the high court directed the state government to consider giving the state's majority Meitei community the Scheduled Tribe status, which is fiercely opposed by the tribal groups, who form about 40 per cent of the population and fear it would undermine their rights.
"Nearly 10,000 soldiers from the Army and the Assam Rifles have been deployed in the state which was rocked by clashes since Wednesday between the Meitei community, which mainly live in Imphal Valley, and Naga and Kuki tribals who are inhabitants of the hill districts," news agency PTI reported.
It put the death toll at 54, adding that the number could be much higher.
Videos from the state circulating on social media show buildings and vehicles in flames and churches being damaged.
State chief minister N. Biren Singh in a social media post on Thursday blamed the violence in the capital Imphal and other districts on the "misunderstanding between two sections of our society." - BERNAMA