Curfew imposed in Imphal after fresh round of violence, Army called in

A curfew has been imposed in Manipur's capital Imphal after fresh violence and arson broke out in the city on Monday.

According to media reports, the army was called in to control the situation, which witnessed agitators torching several houses along with a church on Imphal's Chassad Road.

Clashes broke out over a local market area in Imphal. According to sources, the Kuki and Meitei communities have engaged in a fresh bout of violence in the New Checkon area of ​​the state capital.

The Kuki student organization took to Twitter to condemn the burning of the ICI Church in Chassad, saying it was set ablaze by a mob belonging to the Meitei community.

“Meitei Mobs target and burn down another church. The devastating scenes of the ICI Church in Chassad Avenue, Imphal engulfed in flames, testify to the utter incompetence of our state administration. The people entrusted to protect us have failed miserably and left us to face this disaster alone. Where is the state administration? When will the center be active?" the organization tweeted from its official Twitter account.

The initial ethnic riots broke out in Manipur earlier on May 3 after tribal groups comprising mainly Nagas and Kukis staged a Trival Solidarity March to protest the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The clashes left over 70 people dead and thousands of people displaced as enraged agitators torched or damaged several properties including houses, churches and other facilities.