Dozens killed in clashes with troops in northeastern India

Dozens of rebel fighters have been killed in clashes with security forces in India’s remote northeastern state of Manipur.

The state has been on edge since the explosion of inter-ethnic violence on May 3 between tribal groups and the ethnic majority Meitei people over plans to extend economic quotas to the Meitei.

 
A few militants have also been arrested by the security forces, he added.

The massive crackdown by the state police and security forces is ongoing, and the casualty figures could increase, media reports quoted state government sources as saying.

Singh said the crackdown was launched against the Kuki militant groups who signed a suspension of operations agreement with the federal and the state governments in August 2008. The agreement was signed with 25 Kuki militant groups, 17 of which are under the umbrella group Kuki National Organization and eight under the United Peoples' Front.