IMPHAL: After a brief stoppage and confrontation at Bishnupur by the police, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a chopper and arrived at Churachandpur 64 kilometres from the state capital Imphal, and visited the relief camp, interacting with the victims and children displaced by the ethnic strife, even having meals with them on a same table. 

Rahul Gandhi arrived from Delhi for a two-day visit to the northeastern state since violence broke out on May 3, and his convoy started its way for Churachandpur by road, however, about 20 km away from the district, the police halted them at Bishnupur citing security reasons and demonstrators thronging the way he was to take.

According to the police officials, the decision to disallow the road trip was taken considering a security threat to Rahul Gandhi, however, this led to demonstrations by supporters mostly women. Soon the protesting crowd swelled to a large number and women were seen confronting the police on the stoppage of Rahul Gandhi's convoy. 

The police which first tied to pacify the crowds without any success, had to then fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The convoy had to then return to Imphal and Rahul Gandhi then took a helicopter to Churachandpur and reached about 5 hours behind his schedule at about 4.30 pm and then proceeded to visit the relief camp. 

"People of all communities are very welcoming and loving. It's very unfortunate that the government is stopping me," Gandhi tweeted, further posting, "I came to listen to all my brothers and sisters of Manipur. Manipur needs healing. Peace has to be our only priority."

Congress Party's General Secretary KC Venugopal had tweeted two days ago saying, "Manipur has been burning for nearly two months, and desperately needs a healing touch so that the society can move from conflict to peace. This is a humanitarian tragedy and it is our responsibility to be a force of love, not hate." 

This is the first time that the Congress leader is visiting the northeastern state since violence broke out on May 3 after clashes first broke out following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Since then more than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state and it is estimated that around 50,000 people have taken shelter in over 300 relief camps across the state.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while the tribals, Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hilly districts of Manipur.