Shutdown in Kuki-Zo area protests 'injustice'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi/CCpur, July 10 2024: Kuki-Zo community carried out protests in areas dominated by the community like Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Moreh by enforcing a 12-hour shutdown from 6am on Wednesday.

The protest was held under the aegis of Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of Kuki tribes, against alleged gross injustice and atrocities of security forces meted out to Kuki-Zo people.

In Kangpokpi, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills (KISH) endorsed KIM's emergency meeting resolution and organised sit-in-protest at Vengpi in Keithelmanbi Military Colony.

All vehicular movement, schools and business establishments remained closed except essential and other emergency services which were exempted from the purview of the shutdown.

The protestors chanted slogans like 'Arrest injustice not the Kukis', 'I am Indian not terrorist', 'Arrest the oppressors, not the victims', and 'Grant us Union Territory', etc.

with placards on their hands.

Similar protests were also held at other Kuki-Zo dominated areas in Sa-dar Hills like Leimakhong, Saikul, Motbung, Hengbung apart from Moreh, Churachandpur, New Keithelmanbi and other Kuki-Zo dominated areas.

Meanwhile, the incident at L Hengjol village on July 9 sparked widespread condemnation across the state and the nation particularly from the Kuki-Zo community.

Mention may be made that combined security forces rounded up three Kuki-Zo village volunteers from L Hengjol village during an operation on Tuesday morning and recovered huge arms and ammunition from their possession.

Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights, HTC Moreh and various Kuki organisations have strongly condemned the L Hengjol incident and demanded unconditional release of the arrested volunteers.

The total shutdown called by KIM passed off peacefully in Churachandpur district though the agitation affected normal life in all Kuki-Zo inhabited areas in the district including Churachandpur town as shops and market places remained closed.

All types of businesses activities came to a grinding halt while there was no traffic movement during the shutdown period and attendance in government offices was nil.

Schools and colleges were also closed down.

Amidst the shutdown, Kuki Zo womenfolk responded to the call of Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights and organised a sit-in-protest at the site of Wall of Remembrance while other groups staged similar protest demonstrations at Thingkangphai and S Kotlian villages.

Comment