Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit violence-hit Manipur on Saturday where he will unveil projects worth Rs 8500 crore. This will be his first visit to the northeastern state since the ethnic clashes broke out between Kuki and Meitei communities in May 2023.
Over 250 people were killed, and thousands were rendered homeless. Two years since the conflict, tensions still grip Manipur.
On Thursday, unidentified miscreants torched some barricades and posters put up to welcome Modi to Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district. The torched posters were set up near the helipad at Peasunmun village, where Modi is scheduled to land on Saturday afternoon.
The helipad is about 5 km from the Peace Ground, where the prime minister is scheduled to address a public meeting on Saturday. Videos going viral on social media showed a crowd shouting slogans against Modi as they dismantled the posters.
According to local media reports, the crowd was angry with the administration because they covered the 'Wall of Remembrance', a memorial put up by Kuki groups to mourn those who died in the 2023 conflict.
The police have so far not given any details about the incident.
Meanwhile, six banned underground outfits have called for a statewide shutdown and boycott of Modi’s expected visit to Manipur over the weekend.
The outfits, under the aegis of the Coordination Committee, called for a shutdown from 1pm Saturday until Modi leaves the state.
In a statement on Wednesday, the group alleged that there was no intention to resolve the crisis and that the visit was aimed at strengthening “proxy wars” and consolidating Delhi’s control.
The group accused the prime minister of turning a blind eye to the violence and the killing of over 250 people and the displacement of 60,000.
Manipur continues to remain on edge, with reports of sporadic conflict. The repeated cycle of violence led to the fall of the state BJP government in February, following which President’s rule was imposed in the northeastern state.
On Friday, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel said, "On his arrival in Churachandpur around 12.15 pm, he will first interact with some IDPs (internally displaced persons) in the district. He will lay the foundation stones for various infrastructure projects to be taken up throughout the state. The PM will address a public gathering at Peace Ground in Churachandpur.
"Thereafter, he will arrive at Kangla around 2.30 pm and first interact with some IDPs. He will inaugurate various developmental projects. The PM will address a public gathering at Kangla," the CS said at the press conference
