Govt plans safe transit: shutdown begins In Kangpokpi
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 03 2024: The state government has decided to resume the movement of public vehicles on key routes star ting from December 4, following a comprehensive review of the law and order situation, availability of security forces, response system, and feasibility inputs from various agencies.

The initiative aims to address the grievances faced by the general population in the state while ensuring adequate security deployment along the designated routes.

According to a public appeal statement issued by chief secretary Dr Vineet Joshi on Tuesday, the routes identified for the resumption of public traffic include Imphal-Kangpokpi-Senapati and Imphal-Bishnupur- Churachandpur.

Initially, the movement will be restricted to fixed hours, and individuals wishing to use these routes are advised to contact DCs on 8837448704 (imphal West), Imphal East (8131942004), Kangpokpi (9612700785), Senapati (8798198810/6009384139), Bishnupur (8837058764), and Churachandpur (8415052791) .

The government's initiative is aimed at alleviating the difficulties experienced by the public due to disruptions in traffic.

To ensure the safety and smooth movement of vehicles, the police and other security forces have implemented robust security measures, the statement said.

The state government has appealed to all stakeholders to extend their cooperation and support for the initiative, urging the public to start using the routes as usual from December 4.Furthermore, the government has emphasised the importance of refraining from any form of violence or illegal activities that could disrupt vehicle movement and public commutation along these routes.

The statement further warned that anyone found involved in acts of disturbance or violence will face stern action and be prosecuted under the relevant laws.

Subsequent to the government's plan/announcement, hundreds of Kuki-Zo community members gathered at Gamgiphai on Tuesday to voice their strong opposition to what they believe is another attempt by the state government to breach buffer zones by ferrying passengers through the MST bus service.

In response to the plan to resume vehicular movement on the Imphal-Kangpokpi-Senapati and Imphal-Bishnupur-Churachandpur routes, civil society organisations in Kangpokpi district have imposed a 48-hour total shutdown, effective from midnight on December 3.This decision came after the government's plan, which Kuki-Zo communities in strongly opposed, accusing the government of attempting to "forcefully normalise" the situation in the state.

Local shops, schools, markets, and other businesses will remain closed, but all forms of vehicular movement of all types will be exempted during the 48-hour total shutdown.

The CSOs have also called for the immediate suspension of government offices in Kangpokpi, to express their resentment against what they claim is a biased and nepotistic notification by the state government.

However, educational institutions in the district, considering the ongoing academic examinations, will be exempted from the shutdown.

Earlier, many people staged protest in response to the alleged attempt by the state government to use the MST bus to transport passengers along National Highway 2, passing through Kangpokpi, an area dominated by the Kuki-Zo community.

The community views this move as provocative and sees it as part of a broader effort to forcefully normalise the situation without considering the political implications or the impact on the security of the minority Kuki-Zo community.

According to our Kangpokpi correspondent, it is not the first time the Kuki-Zo people have stood up against such attempts.

On December 24, 2023, the government's plan to take the MST bus along the same route was foiled by the Kuki-Zo community.

Additionally, two similar attempts by chief minister N Biren to push through Kangpokpi via National Highway 2 were also met with strong opposition.

CoTU spokesperson Ng Lun Kipgen stated that the periodic attempts by the chief minister N Biren to breach the buffer zones into areas dominated by the Kuki-Zo community in Kangpokpi, are vehemently decried and opposed by the Kuki-Zo people.

Reiterating the community's strong opposition, Kipgen stated that, in accordance with the collective decision of all civil society organisations of Kangpokpi, the Kuki-Zo community will never accept the bulldozed peace imposed by the state government or any other agency.

The Kuki-Zo people also urged the ministry of home affairs to intervene politically in the matter, rather than through the use of security forces.

On the other hand, thousands of Kuki-Zo people across Kangpokpi observed the 19th Remembrance Day at Saikul sub-divisional headquarters on Tuesday.

The district-level commemoration, organised by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), was hosted by Kuki Inpi Saikul Gamkai in collaboration with KSO Saikul and KWU Saikul.

The occasion marked a remembrance of the fallen Kuki-Zo people who have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in the state.

As a mark of respect, business establishments, schools, and other institutions in the district remained closed throughout the day.

However, vehicular movement was exempted from the total shutdown, allowing essential travel while maintaining the solemnity of the occasion.

The 19th Remembrance Day also served as a platform to voice a critical political demand.

Leaders called on the Government of India to urgently grant the Kuki-Zo people their political rights, specifically the demand for a Union Territory (UT) with a legislature as a 'Christmas Gift" .

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