Violence erupts in Bishnupur; locals burn tyres, try to attack BJP office

Angry local burnt tyres, logs and blocked streets to protest stopping Rahul Gandhi at Bishnupur Police Station earlier in the day

Violence broke out in Bishnupur district of Manipur this evening. Angry locals took to the streets and burnt logs and tyres in the middle of the roads. Some even laid siege to the BJP office in Bishnupur and tried to attack and vandalise it. Police resorted to firing several rounds in the air and also fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

The people were protesting the stopping of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s travel to Churachandpur earlier in the day today, locals said. The police and the district administration maintained that the former Congress President was stopped at Bishnupur Police Station today afternoon due to security reasons.

BJP Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra had said that Rahul Gandhi did not have the government and security clearance to travel by road to Churachandpur and then to Moirang in Bishnupur due to security concerns. He was cleared to travel by chopper.

However, later, Rahul Gandhi took a chopper and reached Churachandpur. He visited relief camp at Lamka, Churachandpur, interacted with the displaced people living in the camps and had lunch with the children.

His visit to Moirang has to be cancelled due to bad weather. He flew back to Imphal.

Tomorrow he is supposed to meet Civil Society leaders in Imphal.

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