NEW DELHI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- A protester was killed during clashes with government forces in the northeastern state of Manipur, police said Monday.
The protester was killed Sunday night when a mob was resorting to vandalism in Manipur Jiribam district, about 216 km west of Imphal, the capital city of Manipur.
"We have information that one person was shot dead and another wounded last night during clashes in the Babupara area of Jiribam police station area," a police official said. "However, who opened the fire is being investigated."
The clashes in the area broke out to protest the killing of women and children abducted by militants.
Reports said the mob torched furniture and other property taken from the local offices of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party.
Authorities have deployed additional contingents of police and paramilitary in sensitive areas like residences of lawmakers and local ministers, besides major roads leading to the offices of the governor, chief minister and BJP headquarters.
A fresh cycle of deadly violence erupted in the state, following which the Indian government deployed security forces in Manipur to take necessary steps to restore order and peace in the state.
The state has been witnessing gunfights and killings between the majority Meitei group and the tribal Kuki minority. Violence so far has claimed over 200 lives and injured over 1,100.
Efforts by the federal government to restore peace in the state have not yielded the desired results. ■