Police arrested 23 individuals on Sunday following a wave of violence in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, where demonstrators ransacked and set fire to the homes of lawmakers and ministers. The unrest, sparked by public outrage over recent violent killings, marked the second consecutive day of turmoil in the region.

Despite an indefinite curfew and a suspension of internet and mobile services, hundreds defied restrictions to protest against the ongoing ethnic conflict that has claimed at least 250 lives since May 2023 and displaced over 60,000 people.

The crisis has deepened divisions between the Meitei and Kuki communities, leaving the state fractured into two ethnic enclaves: the Meitei-dominated valley and the Kuki-controlled hills, separated by a federal forces-monitored no-man’s land.

Tensions flared last week when a 31-year-old Kuki woman was burned alive, an act Kuki groups attribute to Meitei militants. The gruesome incident has further inflamed the situation, prompting demands for accountability and action against the escalating violence.

In a significant political development, the National People's Party, an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), withdrew its support for the state government led by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The party, which holds seven seats in the 60-member assembly, cited Singh's failure to address the crisis effectively.

Saturday’s violence saw protesters storming the residences of multiple lawmakers, including the Chief Minister, leading to police firing tear gas to disperse the mob. Eight people were injured in the confrontations, according to police reports.

Meanwhile, grisly discoveries have heightened tensions. The bodies of a woman and a two-year-old child, believed to belong to a missing Meitei family, were recovered from a river on Sunday, along with three other victims found earlier. A Kuki man’s body was also discovered in the area, though the cause of death remains unconfirmed.

Authorities have bolstered security in Imphal and surrounding areas, with additional forces deployed to maintain order. However, a senior police official described the situation as “relatively calm but unpredictable,” underscoring the fragile peace in the region.

As Manipur grapples with its most severe ethnic unrest in recent history, the state remains on edge, awaiting decisive action to end the cycle of violence and restore normalcy.