​Protest erupts over alleged sexual assault of tribal women in Manipur, police detain demonstrators

The Indian state of Manipur remains in turmoil due to ethnic clashes, with at least 125 dead and over 40,000 displaced since violence erupted on May 3. The conflict began when the Kuki tribal group and the ethnic majority of Meitei disagreed over economic benefits and quotas designated for tribes. After intervention from New Delhi and a brief period of calm, violence flared again, with tensions fueled by videos of sexual assault that surfaced recently. The clash also concerns affirmative action quotas: the Meiteis, who account for half of Manipur's population and are traditionally more prosperous, seek access to education and government job quotas currently reserved for the Kukis and Nagas. Another aggravating factor has been the influx of refugees from Myanmar, linked ethnically to the Kukis, and a government initiative to evict tribal communities from forests. Despite efforts by the central government, peace talks have stalled due to disagreements over panel composition and allegations of bias against the state's Chief Minister. The situation is further complicated by the prevalence of arms within the communities and the legal constraints on military and paramilitary forces, which are bound to work with local authorities.