On their route to Churachandpur, one of the districts most severely affected by the ethnic violence in Manipur, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was halted by the police today.

Earlier today, Mr. Gandhi arrived in Imphal and was travelling to Churachandpur, where he intended to see individuals who had been displaced by the ethnic fighting at relief camps.

Since ethnic conflict began in May of this year, over 300 relief camps are now home to almost 50,000 people throughout the state.

After a “Tribal Solidarity March” was held throughout the hill districts on May 3 to oppose the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, fighting broke out in Manipur.

Tension over the displacement of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land had caused a number of smaller agitations before to the violence in Manipur.

Conflicts between the Meiteis, who reside in and around Imphal Valley, the state capital, and the Kuki tribe, who have taken up residence in the hills, have claimed the lives of over 100 people.