Fresh violence broke out in Manipur’s Churachandpur on Sunday, just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the town, as public anger snowballed over the detention of two locals accused of tearing down the decorations put up in preparation for the PM’s visit.
Residents took to the streets demanding the release of the two men, who had been taken into custody for allegedly vandalizing the decorations and starting fires in the Pearsonmun area late Thursday night, acts reportedly carried out in opposition to the high-profile visit.
“A group of people destroyed the decoration done for the welcome of Prime Minister Modi,” says Dr. Seram Rojesh, convenor of the Delhi Meetei Coordinating Committee & senior journalist.
“Modi has abandoned Manipur… This is just a cosmetic visit; we want a united Manipur,” Dr. Rogesh continues.
The sequence of the event began with a demonstration but quickly swelled up, with some protestors attempting to breach the local police station. Security forces, including personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), were deployed to contain the situation. Clashes broke out, with stone-pelting reported and police resorting to a lathi charge to hold back the protesters.
Law enforcement officials maintained that due process would need to be followed for any release. Later in the day, legal counsel for the detained men sought bail from the district court. A magistrate granted their release by evening, helping to ease the tensions that had gripped the town through the day.
Although the Prime Minister’s Saturday visit passed without major incident, the lead-up had been marked by unease. Thursday night’s vandalism had already prompted local civil society groups to call for restraint and emphasize the importance of maintaining peace.
PM Modi Visits Manipur After 865 Days of Ethnic Violence
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to the violence-stricken Manipur state, where 260 people have been killed in the ethnic clashes in two years. The violence has reportedly displaced tens of thousands of people who are now living in the makeshift rehabilitation camps set up by the government.
“In order to bring life back on track in Manipur, the government of India is making all possible efforts,” Modi said while addressing thousands in Churachandpur, a Kuki-dominated town, on Saturday.
“I promise you today that I’m with you. The government of India is with the people of Manipur,” Modi said.
While addressing a gathering in Imphal, Prime Minister Modi announced that the central government is backing the construction of 7,000 new homes to aid families displaced by the ongoing conflict in the state.
