Locals clash with police amid preparations for PM Modi’s visit to Manipur’s Churachandpur town
Churachandpur: Clashes erupted between locals and the police in Manipur’s Churachandpur after a group tried to tear down decorative structures erected along roads in preparation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the district on Saturday.
According to Kashmir Media Service, this will be the first visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state since ethnic clashes broke out over two years ago.
The clashes on Thursday took place at the Pearsonmun area in Churachandpur town. The locality is close to the Border Security Force facility where Modi’s helicopter is expected to land.
The prime minister is expected to travel about 5 km by road from the facility to the Peace Ground to attend an event.
On Thursday, groups of men armed with sticks went on a rampage at two places near the BSF facility. Videos circulating widely on social media showed the men tearing down the erected frames and engaging in arson.
Visuals also showed the groups clashing with police officers, who baton-charged the men to force them to disperse.
Manipur has been embroiled in ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities that have killed at least 260 persons and displaced more than 59,000 persons since May 2023. There were periodic upticks in violence in 2024.
