• Manipur imposes curfew and internet shutdown due to ethnic violence.
• Protests erupted following the arrest of leaders from the Meitei radical group, Arambai Tenggol.
• Over 250 people have died in Manipur's ongoing ethnic clashes since 2023.
• Government issues orders against gatherings to control the unrest.
• Political leaders criticize government response to the violence.

In the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, a curfew and internet shutdown have been implemented following fresh violence precipitated by the arrest of five leaders from the radical Meitei group, Arambai Tenggol. These arrests instigated clashes between protesters and security forces, leading to demands for the release of the detained members, which included the group's commander Asem Kanan Singh, according to Channel News Asia, Dawn, and BBC.

The unrest in Manipur is deeply rooted in longstanding ethnic tensions between the predominantly Hindu Meitei community and the mainly Christian Kuki community, which have resulted in more than 250 deaths and thousands of displacements since 2023. In the wake of the latest incidents, security measures were escalated, including shutdowns of internet access and prohibitory orders against gatherings, particularly in the state capital, Imphal, as identified by Channel News Asia and BBC.

Authorities stated that the curfew was necessary to maintain order amid the chaos that followed the arrests. The curfew extends across five districts, and state lawmaker Okram Surjakumar noted that the situation had devolved into chaos due to the arrests. Additionally, the Central Bureau of Investigation has decided to shift certain trial proceedings to Guwahati due to the unstable law and order situation in Manipur, according to Dawn and BBC.

Political criticism has intensified, with leaders from the opposition expressing their discontent over the government's handling of the conflict. Notably, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to restoring peace in the region, while local representatives demanded swift action regarding the arrests. Reports indicate that protests included the burning of vehicles and clashes with security forces, leading to injuries among civilians, according to Channel News Asia, Dawn, and BBC.