IMPHAL: On June 29, local police halted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as he was making his way into Churachandpur during a two-day visit to Manipur. The Congress leader travelled to Churachandpur after arriving in Manipur today to see the victims of violence who were staying in the relief camps. The mob stopped Gandhi's convoy.
The visit, which is slated for June 29 and 30, intends to confront the growing issue and offer support to the areas affected by the violence's spiralling out of control.
In the meantime, shortly before Rahul's visit to the region, a new shooting incident was reported from Manipur's Kangpokpi district after masked attackers with high-tech weaponry attacked Tangnaum and L Munlai hamlet on Thursday morning. At the time this report was submitted, no casualties were noted.
The Congress has criticised the government for failing to take any decisive measures to uphold peace and order in the state, hence Rahul Gandhi's visit to Manipur is significant.
Gandhi will meet with victims of violence and visit relief camps in Churachandpur and Bishnupur, according to sources. On June 30, the leader of the Congress will meet with representatives of the Imphal valley's civil society organisation.
Criticizing the matter Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, “Rahul Gandhi is being waved to by people who are gathered on both sides of the street. We cannot comprehend why they have stopped us?”
The ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state has already claimed more than 100 lives.
After a "Tribal Solidarity March" was arranged in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's desire for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, fighting first started on May 3.
The majority of Meiteis, who make up around 53% of Manipur's population, reside in the Imphal Valley.
Another 40% of the population is made up of the Naga and Kuki tribes, who live in the hill districts.
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