Imphal, September 16: A mob clashed with security forces in India’s north-eastern state of Manipur on Sunday after police detained two youths accused of vandalising banners and cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his visit, officials said.
The violence broke out near a police station in Churachandpur district, where protesters gathered to demand the release of the pair. The demonstration escalated as the crowd hurled stones at security forces, police said.
Tensions eased after the two were released. “The individuals were not randomly detained, but picked up from the site of vandalism for questioning,” a district police officer said.
The unrest followed incidents on Sept. 11, when banners and cutouts of Modi erected at Pearsonmun and Phailien Bazaar were damaged. Police had rounded up several suspects, later freeing most of them after questioning.
Modi visited Manipur on Saturday in his first trip to the state since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023 between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. He addressed rallies in both Churachandpur, a Kuki stronghold, and the Meitei-dominated capital Imphal, pledging to make the state a “symbol of peace” and announcing new development projects.
