NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid his first visit to Manipur, two years after ethnic violence left the state in shamble, leaving 260 dead. He inaugurated developmental projects worth Rs 7,300 crore at Kuki-dominated Churachandpur.“There is ‘Mani’ in the name of Manipur. It is that ‘Mani’ which is going to make the entire Northeast shine in the future. The Government of India has been trying to take Manipur forward in the path of development. A while ago, the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 7,000 crore was laid here,” he said.“Centre has increased budget allocation for railway, road connectivity projects in Manipur,” he added. He further urged all outfits to “embark on path of peace to secure your children’s future.”PM Modi was received at the Imphal airport by governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and chief secretary Puneet Kumar Goel.Ahead of the prime minister’s visit, security was significantly tightened in Imphal and Churachandpur. Large contingents of state and central forces have been deployed around Kangla Fort in Imphal and Peace Ground in Churachandpur, the key venues of his rallies.His visit takes place against the backdrop of persistent opposition criticism over his absence from Manipur, where ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities since May 2023 have claimed more than 260 lives and displaced thousands.