Around 33 tribal terrorists have recently been slain in an ongoing security force operation in India’s far northeastern state of Manipur as a result of ethnic hostilities in the area, according to the state’s chief minister.

Growing tension has been observed in the state bordering Myanmar in recent weeks, with rioting and ethnic confrontations killing at least 60 people and uprooting 35,000 others.

The violence began on May 3 when tribal groups clashed with ethnic majority Meitei people – a non-tribal group, over economic benefits and quotas given to the tribes.

On Sunday, Chief Minister N Biren Singh told reporters around 33 militants had so far been killed.

“Mass combing operations along with helicopter operations have started. We are trying to find out culprits, those militants, who are attacking the civilians,” he said.

Earlier in May, New Delhi rushed thousands of paramilitary and army troops to the state of 3.2 million people.

Manipur shares a nearly 400-km (250-mile) border with Myanmar, where a 2021 coup led to thousands of refugees crossing into the Indian state.