48 hour total shutdown imposed in Kuki-Zo dominated areas
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, November 01 2023:
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) Sadar Hills Kangpokpi and the Kuki Students' Organization, General Headquarters (KSO, GHQ) imposed a 48-hour total shutdown in all Kuki-Zo dominated areas in Manipur demanding withdrawal of State forces from Moreh.
The CoTU's total shutdown will begin from 6 am of November 2 while the KSO General Headquarters total shutdown will start from midnight of November 1 .
CoTU's Media Cell Coordinator, Ng Lun Kipgen said that the committee is seriously disturbed to learn that 'insurgents disguised as special commandos, burnt down several houses and vehicles, looted many houses including church offerings at Sinam village along Imphal-Moreh road' .
He said that in protest against such activities in the border town Moreh, the Committee decided to impose the total shutdown in from early morning of November 2 from 6 am to 6 am of November 4 .
He also said the committee affirmed that it shall launch various forms of intensified democratic agitation until their demands are met and cautioned that any untoward incident arising out of this will be the sole responsibility of the Head of the State.
Emergency services, press and COTU units will be exempted from the purview of the total shutdown, he added.
Taking strong exception to the continued stationing and additional deployment of Manipur Police Commandos in Moreh border town, the Kuki Students' Organization General Headquarters, the apex student body of the Kukis, called 48-hours total shutdown in all Kuki-Zo dominated hill districts of Manipur from midnight of November 1 .
Media personnel and medical emergency related cases will only be exempted from the purview of the total shutdown.
The student body stated that it is highly condemnable the manner in which extensive, all-out search and combing operation is being conducted by the State forces in Kuki-Zo inhabited Moreh border area.
The student body then demanded unconditional and immediate withdrawal of all the State forces from Moreh while cautioning that in the event wherein any untoward incidents of violence occurred, the Government shall be held responsible.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal district (KIT) has alleged that 'combined team of militants and police forces had burnt down houses and vehicles and looted money including Church money at Sinam village in Tengnoupal district' .
T Haokip, Vice President of Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal (External) said, 'The incident occurred at around 2:30 pm on October 31 when the womenfolk blocked the combined team who were wearing state police commando uniforms' .
He also alleged that 'miscreants masquerading as police commandos were moving towards Moreh and they opened fire at womenfolk and injured some of them when the women halted them at Sinam village in Tengnoupal district' .
He said that the village volunteers who guarded the village retaliated and the exchange of fire lasted for about one hour.
He continued that following the incident, personnel of Assam Rifles rushed to the spot and intervened and asked the village volunteers to cease fire.
He also pointed out that the miscreants burnt down two residential houses and six vehicles while seven other vehicles were also damaged.
"The village land papers were also taken away", he added.