Thousands of troops have been sent to Manipur since a protest march organized by an ethnic group on Wednesday descended into violence.
The protests are aimed at the state’s largest ethnic group, the Meitei, who have demanded recognition under a law that gives registered ethnic groups the right to a certain quota of government services and education places. The law aims to address structural inequality and discrimination.
Authorities are said to have blocked internet access and issued orders to shoot in “extreme cases” in an attempt to contain the unrest.
During Friday, new violence broke out and, according to the police, the situation remains tense. Various morgues have said that a total of over 50 people have been killed in the clashes, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.
The police state that security forces are gaining control of the situation.
Manipur is located in north-eastern India, in a remote area connected to the rest of the country by a narrow land corridor. The state has for decades been affected by recurring unrest between ethnic and separatist groups.