India Deploys Troops to Stop Mob Violence

Angry mobs set fire to several government buildings Saturday in northeastern India’s restive Manipur state, forcing local authorities to call out the army to quell the violence, police said.

The incident occurred in Ukhrul district, 55 miles north of the state capital, Imphal, where Naga tribal groups have been staging protests to demand integration of Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur with neighboring Nagaland state.

“Angry groups of youth have been on a rampage in this district town since Saturday afternoon, setting ablaze one government building after another, including the office of the district magistrate,” Police Supt. Dhiren Singh said.

Similar violence was reported in three other Naga-dominated districts -- Tamenglong, Senapati and Chandel.

Singh said that no casualties were immediately reported and that few people were at the government offices, which were closed for the weekend. Two protesters were injured when police fired shots to disperse a mob.

Columns of Indian army soldiers marched through the areas to bring the situation under control.

Army spokesman S.D. Goswami said paramilitary troops of the Assam Rifles had taken up positions in all four districts to help civil authorities.

Nagas are one of the main ethnic groups in northeastern India.

Several Naga groups have been fighting for decades, demanding integration of Naga-inhabited areas into one state. Some want such a state to be independent of the Indian federation.