Shutdown hits normal life in Manipur’s Kangpokpi for second day over killing of two Kuki youths

Imphal: Normal life remained affected in Kangpokpi district for the second consecutive day on Tuesday as a tribal organisation continued its shutdown to protest against the alleged failure of the Manipur government to take action over the killing of two Kuki community youths.

A police officer said that shops, markets and business establishments remained closed due to the shutdown.

Several goods-laden vehicles bound for Imphal through National Highway-2 (NH-2) were also unable to enter Kangpokpi district and remained stranded in neighbouring Senapati district, which is predominantly inhabited by the Naga community.

He said that additional security forces had been deployed in the hilly Kangpokpi district to prevent any untoward incident and maintain law and order during the shutdown.

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), a prominent Kuki-Zo organisation, had called the shutdown to condemn what it described as the state government's inaction over the killing of two Kuki civilians.

The bodies of the two Kuki youths, who had gone missing on October 28, were recovered on November 1 following multiple search operations conducted by joint teams of the Manipur Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Assam Rifles.

Following the recovery of the bodies, CoTU initially called a 24-hour shutdown in Kangpokpi district from Sunday. The organisation subsequently extended the shutdown by another 48 hours on Monday evening, citing the government's alleged failure to take concrete steps to ensure justice for the victims.

In a statement, the Kuki organisation said the shutdown had been extended to protest against the government's "shameful indecision, unacceptable silence and continued failure to initiate any tangible action to deliver justice for the brutal and inhumane killing of two innocent Kuki Zo civilians".

The tribal organisation further asserted that the Kuki-Zo people would not accept "empty assurances and administrative excuses in place of justice" and demanded time-bound action against those responsible for the killings.

Meanwhile, the recovery of the bodies of the two missing youths has added to the prevailing tension in the conflict-affected state, where ethnic divisions and security concerns continue to pose serious challenges to the administration.

Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen had earlier urged the authorities concerned to make every possible effort to trace and rescue the two Kuki youthswho went missing from Kangpokpi district on the evening of October 28.

In an earlier statement, Kipgen had strongly condemned the alleged abduction of the two youths from the vicinity of Taphou Kuki village on Wednesday evening.

The two missing persons were identified as Tinginlun Chongloi (21) and Paoginlal Hangshing (20). They were allegedly abducted by unidentified miscreants, she had said.

Another Deputy Chief Minister, Losii Dikho, a senior Naga leader, also condemned the killing of the two youths. More than 50 people have reportedly been killed and dozens of houses torched in clashes between the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities since February this year.

The violence has largely been concentrated in Ukhrul, Kamjong, Kangpokpi and Tamenglong districts, Noney district and parts of Senapati district.

Meanwhile, the larger ethnic conflict between the valley-based Meitei and hill-based Kuki communities, which erupted in May 2023, has claimed at least 310 lives, while 49 people remain missing and thousands have been displaced from their homes.

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