At least 50,000 people have lost their lives in the conflicts since the first insurgency broke out in Manipur in the early 1950s.
Schools, houses, churches and public properties were set ablaze by protesting mobs in violence-hit Manipur. Journalists team visited the affected areas in the state and witnessed the aftermath of the violence. Here's a ground report on how the unrest has crippled the northeastern state.
These conflicts have waned over the years, with many groups striking deals with New Delhi for more powers.
The military has deployed thousands of troops to the state bordering Myanmar, issued "shoot-at-sight" orders in "extreme cases", imposed curfews and cut the internet.
The army said on Sunday no major flare-ups were reported overnight and that a curfew was lifted between 7-10 am in Churachandpur district, one of the main flashpoint areas.
"Past 24 hrs also witnessed Army significantly enhancing surveillance efforts through aerial surveillance, movement of UAVs & redeployment of Army Helicopters within Imphal Valley," it said, referring to unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.
"Total 23000 civilians have been rescued till now & were moved to own operating bases/ military Garrisons," the statement said.
Authorities have not given an official death toll but hospital morgues in the state capital Imphal and Churachandpur had reported a combined total of 54 dead, according to local media.
Tribal groups including the Kukis are unhappy about the prospect of the state's majority Meitei community being recognised under a "Scheduled Tribe" category.
This designation would give them a certain quota of government jobs and college admissions in a form of affirmative action aimed at addressing structural inequality and discrimination.
L. Sanglun Simte, 29, a Kuki who has been camping outside the airport in state capital Imphal with 11 of his family members since Saturday, recounted the horror as violence broke out.
"We fled for safety. Things are not okay. They are just attacking us Kukis," he told AFP.
Simte said his 49-year-old cousin, Siemcha Gangte, was killed by a mob on Thursday and his house was set on fire.
"The attackers say we are outsiders and need to leave Imphal. When they attacked us, the local police didn't help."
Simte, who has booked a flight for Agartala, the capital of neighbouring Tripura state, said he would return only if security improved.
"We don't feel safe right now," he said.
Lalpu Suantak, 45, who works with a state-owned bank in Imphal and is also from the Kuki community, said he fled his house with 12 family members after some homes and a neighbourhood church were set on fire.
"My house hasn't been touched yet but there was fear when a mob burnt one house in our area," he told AFP.
A ground report by reporting team revealed that a children's home, established in 1972, was also set on fire. "Protestors have burned down nearby churches and the fire has become uncontrollable, and our children's home, where 19 children were taking shelter, was also set on fire,"Pramodini, the secretary of the Children's Home, told India Today NE.
In the aftermath of the violence, 14 companies of paramilitary forces have deployed in the violence-hit state and the Centre has also dispatched additional security forces and anti-riot vehicles to maintain peace.
Around 1,000 more central paramilitary personnel with anti-riot vehicles reached Manipur on Friday, sources told PTI.
Our team also visited Langol, where hundreds of burnt down vehicles were lying by the roadside. Victims were being evacuated from Langol's affected area by the security forces.
A Defence spokesperson said a total of 13,000 people were rescued and shifted to safe shelters. People have also been shifted to army camps as the army brought Churachandpur, Moreh, Kakching and Kangpokpi districts under its “firm control”, PTI reported.
The aftermath of the violence can be seen in every corner of Imphal city, where vehicles were set on fire and flames could still be seen in some places.
The team also went to Haokip Veng in Imphal East, where they saw one kindergarten school, one church, and many houses burned down. Even commercial properties were destroyed by the enraged mob.
The Lodestar Public School in Khongveng, Imphal East, which was being used to store vehicles for safety, was also destroyed. Though the Army on Friday said the situation was under control, angry mobs are continuing protests in some areas.
Although the situation appears to be under control, mobs are continuing to protest in some areas. Our team witnessed this firsthand in Sangaiprou, where angry protesters took to the streets. Security personnel were forced to use tear gas in an effort to quell the unrest and restore order.
Urging people to maintain peace, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, "Precious lives have been lost, besides damage of properties, which is very unfortunate", without giving any details of the number of dead or injured.
A CRPF CoBRA commando on leave was shot dead by armed assailants in his village in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Friday, officials told PTI. Constable Chonkholen Haokip of delta company of the 204th CoBRA battalion was killed around 2-3 pm.
Initially, the circumstances in which he was killed were not clear, but later, senior officials said it is understood that some assailants donning police-like fatigue entered his village and killed him.
In the wake of constable Chonkholen Haokip being killed, the CRPF on Friday directed its personnel hailing from Manipur and on leave in their home state to "immediately" report to their nearest security base with family members.