MMA player’s tearful plea to PM Modi to visit Manipur goes viral

NT Correspondent

Guwahati/Bengaluru: A leading mixed martial arts player from Manipur was seen making a ‘humble request’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video clipping that made the rounds on social media recently.

In the 43 second video, Chungreng Koren is seen emotionally making an appeal, after his victory at the Interim MFN Bantamweight championship in a MMA facility in Noida.

“We’re really worried about the future of Manipur. Modiji, please visit Manipur once,” Koren cried.

Ever since the conflict erupted on May 3, last year, Modi has not visited Manipur. The ethnic clash has left 221 dead and over 67,000 displaced.

“People are dying every day. Those in relief camps are not getting proper food or water and the children cannot go to school,” he uttered, appealing to Modi to visit and ‘ensure peace returns’ to Manipur.

The 26 year old hails from the Kamu Koireng village in Kangpokpi district, a relative of Koren told The Telegraph.

His wife, two sons and daughter live with his widowed mother there, and Koren regularly visits them from his training facility in Gurgaon, the report says.

Koren belongs to the Koireng tribe, which is one of the officially recognised indigenous communities in the state.

It has remained neutral in the conflict, the relative said. The relative also made a similar appeal for peace in the state.

Dubbed the ‘Indian Rhino,’ Koren is ranked 21 amongst 99 active Asia South Pro Bantamweights, reports suggest. Opposition Congress and AAP have shared the video on social media.