Protesting against Union home minister Amit Shah’s visit to strife-hit Manipur, a large number of womenfolk on April 15 imposed a snap-blockade along Imphal-Ukhrul road at Khurai area of Imphal East district.
The womenfolk particularly blocked the vehicles transporting people for the election rally of the BJP in Imphal’s Hapta Kangjeibung which Amit Shah was to address.
The vehicles were forced to make U-turn by the protesters who blocked the road at some places in Khurai areas including at Lamlong Keithel (market).
The womenfolk staged the protest while asking the reason behind Shah’s visit only during election whereas he failed to keep his promise of visiting the state again during the peak of the ethnic clashes.
Shah had come to the state on a mission to restore peace and normal in the strife-torn Manipur on May 29 last year and stayed till June 2. He did hold a series of meetings with political and civil society leaders from both the Meitei and Kuki communities and visited Churachandpur, the site of some of the worst violence.
Before concluding his visit, Amit Shah had promised to come back to the state after 15 days. But, he never came back even as the cycle of violence continued and is going to complete a year next month.
The protesters alleged that the visit of the Union home minister only during election showed that elections are more important than the lives and properties of the people of the state.
The blockade was suspended only after a strong team of Imphal East district police led by its SP arrived at the spot and convinced the protesters to allow free passage of the vehicles.
