The 48-hour total shutdown in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district imposed by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) culminated on Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm while its economic blockade along NH-2 and NH-37 is still underway. Life was brought to a halt on both days of the band with the shutters down for all shops and schools. Movement of vehicles along the NH-2 continues to be blocked.

The 48-hour emergency total shutdown was called following the brutal killing of two innocent Kuki-Zo including an IRB personnel in an ambush allegedly carried out by the Valley-Based Insurgent Groups on 20th November 2023.

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Volunteers were seen at various locations enforcing the total shutdown on both days however, there was no report of any untoward incident till the culmination of the shutdown.

Amid the ongoing total shutdown and economic blockade, CoTU also organized a protest today at Leikop along National Highway 2 drawing the attention of the central government and placed several points to the Union Home Ministry to be addressed within five days.

The protesters mostly Kuki-Zo womenfolk chanted slogans such as, “We Demand CBI inquiry”, “We Want Justice”, “We Demand Separate Administration”, etc.

Speaking to the media, CoTU’s Media Cell Coordinator, NG. Lun Kipgen said that the November 20 ambush taking two innocent Kuki-Zo precious lives was the second fatal ambush carried out by the disguised Valley-Based Insurgent Groups in the region donning state forces camouflage, armed with sophisticated weapons. He claimed that videos and images of the VBIGs celebrating with a feast after committing the crime were available in the public domain.

Kipgen said that if any Kuki-Zo can be arrested on grounds of mere suspicion without any concrete evidence, then those suspects deserve immediate conviction.

“Our trust in the law and upon the Central Government is waning day by day”, he asserted before adding that if this system goes any longer, it will be a mockery of our democratic and constitutional values.

CoTU’s Media Cell Coordinator also maintained that “the Prime Minister must not let the minorities be a mere sacrificial lamb for the majority community”.

Further, Kipgen said that the Union Government must think beyond electoral politics and look into the sentiments of the minorities while adding that as our patience is running out the constant subjugation will only lead to unwanted consequences in the coming days.

“Are we lesser Indians to have the CBI and NIA to take up our cause”, he asked, urging PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take up the cases of the Kuki-Zo and not to give a stepmotherly treatment.

On the further course of action and the ongoing economic blockade, the CoTU Media Cell Coordinator, NG. Lun Kipgen said that there were five points to be addressed by Shah within five days, failing which we will review our mode of agitation for a heavier stir, the five points being:

– The non-reciprocity on essential items and medical supplies from the valley to Kuki-Zo areas, viz. Lamka, Tengnoupal, and Kanggui

– The biased resettlement of displaced Meiteis in Kuki-Zo areas

– The selective security protection for Meitei farmers

– The constitutional breach of diverting tribal developmental funds

– The non-response of Kuki-Zo demand for political separation