Manipur's Kangpokpi District Faces Shutdown Amid Protests Over Youth Killings

Protests Disrupt Normalcy in Kangpokpi

Normal activities in Kangpokpi district, Manipur, were disrupted for the second consecutive day on Tuesday as markets and businesses remained closed. This shutdown was initiated by a tribal group in response to the alleged inaction of the state government regarding the deaths of two local youths.

According to police reports, numerous goods vehicles attempting to reach Imphal were unable to enter Kangpokpi and were left stranded in the nearby Senapati district.

To maintain order, additional security personnel were deployed in the area, as stated by a senior official.

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) organized the shutdown to express their outrage over the government's perceived negligence in addressing the killings of two Kuki civilians.

The bodies of the two missing youths were discovered in a hilly area of Senapati on Sunday morning, prompting CoTU to call for a 24-hour shutdown, which was later extended by an additional 48 hours on Monday night.

The Kuki organization criticized the government's lack of decisive action and silence regarding the brutal killings, demanding accountability and justice for the victims.

They emphasized that the Kuki-Zo community would not accept mere promises or administrative excuses in lieu of justice and insisted on a clear timeline for action against those responsible.

The ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur, which began in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki communities, has resulted in over 306 fatalities, with 49 individuals still unaccounted for and thousands displaced.

Additionally, recent reports indicate clashes between the Kuki and Naga communities.