Normal life remained disrupted in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district for the second consecutive day on November 3 as markets and business establishments remained closed during a shutdown called by a tribal organisation over the killing of two Kuki civilians.
Several goods-laden vehicles heading towards Imphal through the national highway remained stranded in neighbouring Senapati district after being unable to enter Kangpokpi, police said. Additional security forces were deployed in the district to prevent any untoward incident.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) called the shutdown to protest what it described as the state government’s failure to act against those responsible for the killings. The mutilated bodies of two youths, who had gone missing days earlier, were recovered from a hilly area in neighbouring Senapati district on Sunday morning.
CoTU initially called a 24-hour shutdown from Sunday but extended it by another 48 hours on Monday night.
In a statement, the organisation accused the government of indecision and failing to take concrete steps to ensure justice for the victims. It demanded time-bound action against those responsible, saying the Kuki-Zo community would not accept assurances in place of justice.
Manipur has witnessed ethnic violence between the valley-based Meitei and hill-based Kuki communities since May 2023. The conflict has claimed at least 306 lives, left 49 people missing and displaced thousands, according to figures cited in the report. Clashes between Kuki and Naga communities have also been reported in recent months.
