MANIPUR VIOLENCE: Following riots that left at least 12 people dead and numerous churches vandalised in a northeastern state of India, church leaders there have requested assistance from the federal government.

The Manipur state government issued a shoot-on-sight order and enforced a curfew on May 4 in response to the deaths during the protests that day. 

In Manipur, which borders Myanmar, a significant number of soldiers were sent out to enforce the curfew and put an end to the conflict between tribal and non-tribal populations.  "The predicament has gotten out of hand. We implore the federal government to act right away. On May 4, Reverend Zuankamang Daimai of the Manipur Baptist Convention Centre reported  that if not, "I am afraid that the people of Manipur may witness things that have not happened in the past."

"Over 5,000 Christians have been evicted over the course of the previous two days, and over 50 churches have been vandalised. While in disbelief, our people are pleading for peace. The situation here has gotten worse," said Daimai, who is located in Imphal, the state's capital.

The state's highest court ordered the state administration on April 19 to suggest to the federal government within four weeks that they grant the Meitei community's request to be listed among Scheduled Tribes, which sparked the ensuing violence.

The Meitei people, who make up the majority in the state, have been pushing for this special status in order to benefit from the reservation quota, India's affirmative action programme, which gives them access to rights to cultivate on forest land, low-cost bank loans, and government employment.

The Meitei community, according to tribal members, is fairly prosperous and more privileges would be unfair.

Rival groups of indigenous people, the majority of whom are Christians and primarily reside in hill districts, include the Meiteis, who are primarily Hindus. The 3.5 million tribal people who live in the state make up 40% of the total population, and more than 41.29% of them are Christians.

Since the curfew was implemented, Christians in this area have been living in constant fear. While minority groups are fleeing for their life, the Meitei tribe behaves as if it is beyond the law, Daimai said.

The issue is that the majority Meitei group opposes others' success, he said. 

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