On day 1 of his two-day visit to the northeastern state of Manipur, Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday, June 29, visited the relief camps set up for the people who were displaced because of the ethnic clashes in Manipur, in Churachandpur. He arrived at Churachandpur in a helicopter, after his convoy was stopped 20 KM away from the site, in Bishnupur, due to the fear of violence. As per the state police, Gandhi was asked to visit Churachandpur in a helicopter, rather than going there via road, because of security concerns.
Though hours behind his schedule, Gandhi went to the relief camp and interacted with the inmates. As per sources, Rahul Gandhi took a state government-provided chopper to visit the site, and he was accompanied by top police and administration officials.
Back in Bishnupur, where his convoy was blocked by the Manipur police, Congress workers and locals had started staging protests against the move and wanted him to go forward. Hence, the police used tear gas on the demonstrators, while many others opposed Gandhi’s visit to Churachandpur.