Imphal, India: A mass burial ceremony took place on Wednesday in Manipur state, India, where the bodies of 87 individuals who lost their lives during eight months of intense ethnic violence were laid to rest, according to a spokesperson for the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF).

The ongoing conflict in Manipur, which began in May, has resulted in at least 200 casualties, with clashes primarily occurring between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the mainly Christian Kuki community. Rooted in competition for land and public employment opportunities, the tensions have prompted accusations against local leaders for exploiting ethnic divisions for political gain.

The state has witnessed a fracture along ethnic lines, leading to the establishment of blockades by rival militias to restrict the movement of opposing community members. This situation has prevented many families from traveling to collect the bodies of their deceased relatives.

The remains of the victims had been stored in morgues in Imphal, the state capital, which is considered predominantly Meitei-dominated. Last month, India's top court mandated the burial or cremation of the bodies, resulting in the airlifting of remains for 64 people from Imphal to be handed over to their families.

Ginza Vualzong, a spokesperson for ITLF, stated, "The burial is over for all the 87 bodies. It is a day of mixed emotions. It is a sad day, but in a way, a sense of relief as we can finally put our martyrs to rest."

In a solemn ceremony in the Kuki-dominated area of Churachandpur, long lines of coffins adorned with Christian crosses were lowered into separate graves dug into a hillside. Riflemen fired volleys into the air as a mark of respect.

This mass burial follows a similar event last week in Kangpokpi district, where 19 bodies were interred. Human Rights Watch has accused state authorities in Manipur, governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, of contributing to the conflict through "divisive policies that promote Hindu majoritarianism."

Recent clashes in Manipur's Tengnoupal district, near the Myanmar border, resulted in at least 13 deaths earlier this month. On Tuesday, a renewed internet ban and a prohibition on large public gatherings were imposed after fresh outbreaks of violence.