People chant slogans during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, May 31, 2023. Hundreds of tribals from India's Manipur on Wednesday staged a protest seeking the government's intervention in the northeastern state to contain violence and end the ongoing tensions. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

Hundreds of tribals from India's Manipur on Wednesday staged a protest seeking the government's intervention in the northeastern state to contain violence and end the ongoing tensions.

"The tribal solidarity march today is the symbolic event for the tribals to let the world witness that we are not the perpetrators nor are we militants or drug warlords but law-abiding citizens who are compelled to protect our tribal land against the treacherous tactics adopted by the state to deprive us of our landholdings," reads a statement issued by the protesters.

The protest demonstration comes at a time when India's federal home minister Amit Shah is in Manipur in an effort to restore normalcy in the northeastern state.

Large-scale violence broke out in the state earlier this month during a tribal protest demonstration over the inclusion of the non-tribal Meiteis community for a Scheduled tribe status. The call for protest was given by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur.

Scheduled tribes in India are officially designated as disadvantaged socio-economic groups. They are given reservations in education and jobs with the aim to improve their lives.

Thousands of people took part in the rally during which violence broke out between the tribals and non-tribals. Schools, houses, churches, vehicles and public properties were set ablaze by protesting mobs in the state.

Reports said the ethnic clashes have so far claimed at least 80 lives. Nearly 300 people were injured and close to 1,700 houses burnt down during the violence in the state.

Authorities responded by imposing a curfew and deployed over 100 columns of the army and paramilitary forces in the state to restore peace.

People chant slogans during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, May 31, 2023. Hundreds of tribals from India's Manipur on Wednesday staged a protest seeking the government's intervention in the northeastern state to contain violence and end the ongoing tensions. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

People chant slogans during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, May 31, 2023. Hundreds of tribals from India's Manipur on Wednesday staged a protest seeking the government's intervention in the northeastern state to contain violence and end the ongoing tensions. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)