Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was stopped by the police today on the way to Churachandpur, one of the worst-hit districts in the Manipur ethnic violence.
Police said that Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was stopped at Bishnupur, 20 kilometres from Imphal, over security concerns. The Congress leader is now heading back to Imphal and will take a helicopter instead of travelling to Churachandpur by road.
Officials said that the move was taken as there was a huge mob of women protesters on the route that Rahul Gandhi was travelling on.
“We fear repetition of such events and hence as a precaution, requested the convoy to halt at Bishnupur,” a police officer said.
However, Congress sources said the women were protesting against the cops for stopping Mr Gandhi and that they wanted him to visit Churachandpur as well as their village.
“He visited Manipur to know what the people of the state are going through. He didn’t come here to do politics. Why are they blocking his road,” asked one of the protesting women.
Mr Gandhi landed in Imphal earlier today and will now head to Churachandpur where he plans to visit relief camps and meet people displaced by the ethnic strife.
Around 50,000 people are now staying in over 300 relief camps across the state since ethnic strife started in May this year.
Clashes broke out in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
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The violence in Manipur was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.
Over 100 people have died in clashes between the Meiteis, who live in and around the state capital Imphal Valley, and the Kuki tribe, who are settled in the hills.