GUWAHATI, India, June 18 (Reuters) - Indian authorities said on Sunday they had started to relax a curfew imposed in violence-hit Manipur after 45 days of civil unrest in the north-east state, seeking to reduce anger spilling onto the streets and restore normalcy. Meiteis, the dominant community in the low lands of the state, who account for half of state's population, demand extension of limited affirmative action quotas to them. But Kukis fear it would mean Meiteis would get a greater share in education and government jobs reserved for them. "We believe that if the prime minister takes action, then peace in Manipur can be restored in 24 hours," said Nimaichand Luwang, an opposition lawmaker in Manipur. A senior home ministry official in New Delhi said at least 32,000 security forces will continue to support local police until normalcy is restored.

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Persons: Diana Devi, Narendra Modi's, Modi, Nimaichand Luwang, Rupam Jain, Lincoln Organizations: Thomson Locations: GUWAHATI, India, Manipur, Imphal, Myanmar, Meiteis, New Delhi