Ahead of Visit, Structure Erected To Welcome PM Modi Pulled Down In Manipur's Churachandpur

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Manipur, miscreants in Manipur's Kuki-majority Churachandpur district vandalized decorative structures erected along the road, The New Indian Express reported.

The incidents, which occurred around 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, involved groups of armed men who went on a rampage at two locations near the helipad where the Prime Minister is set to land. His convoy will be passing through the very road where the demolitions took place.

The incident sites are located approximately 2 km from the Peace Ground in Churachandpur, where Modi is slated to speak. Following his address there, he will travel to the state capital, Imphal. He will be taking part in an event and address a gathering at the Kangla Fort.

The Prime Minister's visit marks his first to the state since ethnic clashes began in May 2023. The report claims that a brief confrontation between the police and the miscreants. Going by the clips doing rounds on social media, miscreants are setting the structures on fire, and in one clip, a police officer appeared to be "a mute spectator."

On the other hand, Kuki-Zo organizations, including the Kuki Inpi Manipur and the Imphal Hmar Displaced Committee, had earlier welcomed the Prime Minister's "long overdue" visit" but expressed disapproval over the planned dance program in the official function, stating, "Our mourning is not yet over, our tears are not yet dried, our wounds are not yet healed. We cannot dance with joy."