Guwahati: Tension rose in Manipur’s Kuki-majority Churachandpur district after decorative structures erected to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi were pulled down on Thursday evening, two days before his scheduled visit.
The structures were brought down at two sites near the helipad where Modi’s convoy is expected to pass. Videos circulating online showed roadside decorations being demolished and some set on fire. In one clip, a policeman was seen standing silently as the destruction continued. Locals said police had a brief confrontation before the group responsible left the area.
The incidents occurred about two kilometers from Peace Ground, the venue where Modi is set to deliver his address on September 13. This will be his first visit to Manipur since ethnic clashes between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities erupted in May 2023. After his Churachandpur programme, Modi is scheduled to fly to Imphal to speak at Kangla Fort.
Earlier, Kuki-Zo organizations including the Kuki Inpi Manipur and the Imphal Hmar Displaced Committee had welcomed the Prime Minister’s visit, calling it overdue. However, they opposed the inclusion of a cultural dance performance in the official programme. In statements, they said their community remains in mourning, with wounds unhealed and displacement unresolved, making it inappropriate to celebrate through dance.
The events underline continuing tensions in the state, where peace remains fragile despite government efforts.
