Dec 15 (Reuters) - Khaiminthang Lhungdim just wanted to visit his family during a rare break from playing duties last month, but an airport off-limits to his community meant the Punjab FC defender was unable to make the journey home to Manipur.

More than two years after a deadly conflict broke out in the north-eastern Indian state bordering Myanmar, the ethnic discord continues to divide communities and the game that still sometimes unites them in passion.