Imphal/ Churachandpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was heading to the Kuki stronghold of Churachandpur by road on Saturday afternoon after landing in Manipur’s capital Imphal amid heavy rains, officials said.

Earlier, he was scheduled to fly directly from the Mizoram capital, Aizawl, to Churachandpur following his official programme, but inclement weather disrupted his travel plans, they said.

This is his first visit to the state after ethnic violence broke out in May 2023.

Modi was received at the Imphal airport by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel.

He will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 8,500 crore in the state during the visit.

Later in the day, he will return to Meitei-dominated Imphal from Churachandpur, officials said.

In view of Modi’s visit, security has been tightened in the state.

Both state and central forces’ personnel were deployed in large numbers in and around the nearly 237-acre Kangla Fort in Imphal and the Peace Ground in Churachandpur, the venues of the PM’s rallies, they said.

Heavy rain has lashed the state since Friday night, resulting in ankle-deep water in parts of the Kangla Fort.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said, “In line with his commitment to inclusive, sustainable and holistic development of Manipur, the PM will lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 7,300 crore at Churachandpur.”

Modi will also inaugurate multiple development projects worth more than Rs 1,200 crore from Imphal, it said.

The PM’s visit comes amid repeated criticism by opposition parties for not visiting Manipur following the ethnic strife between the Kuki and Meitei communities, which has left over 260 people dead and thousands homeless since May 2023.

Among the projects, the PM will inaugurate the new Manipur Police headquarters built at a cost of Rs 101 crore at Mantripukhri in Imphal and the civil secretariat, constructed at a cost of Rs 538 crore, in the same locality.

From Churachandpur, Modi will lay the foundation stone for various projects, including the drainage and asset management improvement project worth Rs 3,647 crore and the Manipur Infotech Development (MIND) project at Rs 550 crore.

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