Manipur: Rahul Gandhi Takes Helicopter To Reach Churachandpur After Police Stop Convoy

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a helicopter to visit Churachandpur after his convoy was stopped by the police near Bishnupur today.

Rahul Gandhi's convoy was stopped by the police in Manipur's Bishnupur. The Congress leader has now returned to Imphal.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a helicopter to visit Churachandpur after his convoy was stopped by the police near Bishnupur while he was on his way to meet the victims of ethnic strife in Manipur on Thursday.

He had earlier in the day landed at Imphal from Delhi for a two-day visit to the violence-hit state.

"Rahul Gandhi took a state government-provided chopper to visit Churachandpur. Top police and administration officials accompanied him in the helicopter," said a source at the airport, according to PTI.

According to news agency PTI, police officials said the convoy was stopped fearing violence along the route. They said that tyres were burnt on the highway near Utlou village in Bishnupur district and a few stones were thrown at the convoy.  

"We fear repetition of such events and hence as a precaution, requested the convoy to halt at Bishnupur," PTI reported a police officer as saying.

The Congress alleged that the BJP governments at the Centre and the state are using "autocratic methods" to stall the visit of Gandhi.

Speaking to ANI, MPCC President K Meghachandra said, "People are standing on the roads to welcome Rahul Gandhi but Bishnupur SP, ASP, ADM and other police officials are blocking the roads. I have heard that there were instructions given by Manipur CM to block the roads. They are politicising this. They are only saying that the law and order situation is not good and are not allowing us to move ahead."

The "double-engine disastrous governments are using autocratic methods to stall a compassionate outreach by Shri Rahul Gandhi. This is totally unacceptable and shatters all constitutional and democratic norms," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted.

More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state so far.

Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.