Despite boycott calls, PM to canvass in Manipur

Imphal, April 4 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Manipur on Sunday for campaigning despite boycott calls given by the outlawed Maoist Communist Party, BJP sources told IANS on Thursday.

Manipur goes to the polls on April 11 and 18 for two Lok Sabha seats.

The police said security in and around Imphal city has been tightened to ensure that there is no untoward incident during the Prime Minister's visit.

Hundreds of persons were checked at different places in the city and asked to prove their identity by the security forces. A few have been detained for questioning. However, no militant has been arrested or illegal arms and explosives recovered, the police said.

The armed rebel group is boycotting Modi's visit alleging the government's hand in the escape of rape accused Th. Nando and drug king pin Leikhosei Zou.

In a statement the rebel group accused the state government of abetting the escape of the two.

While journalist Kishorechandra, who was detained under the National Security Act, has not been allowed to meet his family members, the group questioned how Th. Nando, commander of the Kangleipak Communist Party (Nando group) could "escape" from the hospital here.

The group also raised questions over the release of L. Zou, who is a vice president in the Bharatiya Janata Party. He had been arrested and some illegal guns and heroin worth over Rs 37 crore seized.

The Congress has also demanded a CBI probe suspecting a political angle in the Zou case.

"Police arrested constable Manjoor Ahmed in connection with Nando's escape and tortured him to death in custody," K. Meghachandra, Congress spokesperson said, adding that the policeman was not even on duty on March 26 when Nando had escaped.

People in Thoubal district from where the deceased constable hailed have been agitating for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe, too.