We are on the best way again to Manipur’s state capital Imphal when a big group of males armed with lengths of pipe and bricks emerges, blockading the street. The crowd doesn’t allow us to go till they’re satisfied we aren’t their enemy – on this case, the largely Kuki tribal group who’ve lived in concord alongside the bulk Meitei individuals for many years till the sudden explosion of ethnic violence right here two and a half months in the past.

In a matter of days, this state within the northeastern nook of India – greater than 1,500 miles from Delhi, and solely about 70 miles from the border with Myanmar – was divided into territories managed by both facet, with males from every group taking over arms to kind non-public militias and organising checkpoints alongside main roads full with trenches, bunkers and armed patrols.

At least 142 individuals have died to this point within the preventing, in line with official figures, with the true quantity probably far larger. Fires have been the backdrop – with homes and locations of worship set ablaze. It has been troublesome to confirm the true scale of the state of affairs, partly as a result of the Indian authorities has restricted overseas media from travelling to the area, and partly due to an web blackout that has restricted the circulation of data within the state.