AFP/ Published by Dhaka Tribune: May 7, 2023 6:45 PM | Last updated:May 7, 2023 6:45 PM

Some 23,000 people have fledethnic violence in northeast India that has reportedly killed at least 54, thearmy said Sunday, although there was no new "major violence"overnight.

The unrest in Manipur stateerupted after a protest march by a tribal group last week sparked clashes, withvehicles and houses set on fire and authorities firing tear gas.

The military has deployedthousands of troops to the state bordering Myanmar, issued"shoot-at-sight" orders in "extreme cases", imposed curfewsand cut the internet.

The army said on Sunday no majorflare-ups were reported overnight and that a curfew was lifted between 7-10 amin Churachandpur district, one of the main flashpoint areas.

"Past 24 hrs also witnessedArmy significantly enhancing surveillance efforts through aerial surveillance,movement of UAVs & redeployment of Army Helicopters within ImphalValley," it said, referring to unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.

"Total 23000 civilians havebeen rescued till now & were moved to own operating bases/ militaryGarrisons," the statement said.

Authorities have not given anofficial death toll but hospital morgues in the state capital Imphal andChurachandpur had reported a combined total of 54 dead, according to localmedia.

Tribal groups including the Kukisare unhappy about the prospect of the state's majority Meitei community beingrecognised under a "Scheduled Tribe" category.

This designation would give thema certain quota of government jobs and college admissions in a form ofaffirmative action aimed at addressing structural inequality anddiscrimination.

L. Sanglun Simte, 29, a Kuki whohas been camping outside the airport in state capital Imphal with 11 of hisfamily members since Saturday, recounted the horror as violence broke out.

"The attackers say we areoutsiders and need to leave Imphal. When they attacked us, the local policedidn't help." 

Simte, who has booked a flightfor Agartala, the capital of neighbouring Tripura state, said he would returnonly if security improved.

"We don't feel safe rightnow," he said.

Lalpu Suantak, 45, who works witha state-owned bank in Imphal and is also from the Kuki community, said he fledhis house with 12 family members after some homes and a neighbourhood churchwere set on fire.

"My house hasn't beentouched yet but there was fear when a mob burnt one house in our area," hetold AFP.

India's northeast has seendecades of unrest among ethnic and separatist groups seeking more autonomy oreven secession from India, with at least 50,000 people killed in Manipur sincethe 1950s.

These conflicts had waned overthe years, with many groups striking deals with New Delhi for more powers.