Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrived in Manipur for a two-day visit. His convoy was halted by police on its way...
Digital Desk: Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader, arrived in Manipur on Thursday to begin a two-day visit to the state besieged by conflict. Manipur Police stopped Rahul Gandhi's convoy on its way to Churachandpur from the state capital Imphal due to security concerns.
The convoy was stopped roughly 20 kilometres from Imphal in Bishnupur. Rahul Gandhi was on his way to Churachandpur, which has seen some of the worst incidences of ethnic violence in the state in recent weeks.
Manipur Police cited security concerns as the reason for banning Rahul Gandhi's convoy. According to the Superintendent of Police in Bishnupur, his convoy could be mistaken as a troop of "attackers."
"Rahul Gandhi must not be permitted to continue. We are concerned about his safety," said Bishnupur's SP. "There was arson, and the situation was even worse last night." The troop led by Rahul Gandhi may be mistaken for that of the attackers in Churachandpur, stated a police official.
Rahul Gandhi will meet with civil society members and visit relief camps in Imphal and Churachandpur, according to KC Venugopal, General Secretary of the Congress.
This is the Congress leader's first visit to the northeastern state since the unrest began on May 3.
"Manipur has been on fire for nearly two months and desperately needs a healing touch to transition society from conflict to peace. This is a humanitarian catastrophe, and it is our job to be a force of love rather than hatred," KC Venugopal stated.
Rahul Gandhi will travel to several refugee camps during his journey, where the displaced people have sought safety from the aftermath of violence.
Since the ethnic conflict began in May of this year, over 300 relief camps are now home to almost 50,000 people throughout the state.
The ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state has already claimed more than 100 lives.
Clashes erupted on May 3 during a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the hill areas to protest the Meitei community's desire for Scheduled Tribe ST status.
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