Shutdown, mass prayer on Aug 3 to mark violence
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, August 02 2023:
The May 'mayhem' will mark 90 days on August 3 with no sign of normalcy and peace returning, though violence has reduced to some extent.
A 12-hour total shutdown and mass prayer will mark the threemonth violence in the state, as Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills called for the total shutdown in Kangpokpi district on Thursday, while Kangpokpi Christian Tribal Churches Leaders Fellowship is all set to organise mass prayer at Brig M Thomas Ground on the same day.
CoTU's decision to impose the total shutdown came in the back-drop of non-withdrawal of state forces, including police commandos from border town Moreh and the fresh arson of residential houses belonging to Kuki-Zo community in Imphal valley over the past two days.
Earlier, CoTU had demanded the government to withdraw the state forces from Moreh during its sitin-protest at Kangpokpi on July 31 .
In this regard, CoTU general secretary Lamminlun Singsit said that the attempt to deploy additional state forces in Moreh by government of Manipur is considered as "life-threatening" for Kuki-Zo tribals, and as such, he urged the centre to withdraw the state forces from Moreh, which is yet to be materialised.
Moreover, houses belonging to Kuki-Zo communities in Imphal were burnt down in the last two days.
Therefore, we have decided to impose a 12-hour total shutdown in the Kangpokpi district from 6am on August 3, he asserted.
He also said that the total shutdown is to mark the three-month of the infamous ethnic cleansing of Kuki-Zo tribals and to commemorate the departed Kuki-Zo souls in the violence.
He then appealed to the public to understand the sentiment of the Kuki-Zo people and obey the total shutdown.
Meanwhile, to mark the 90-days of Manipur turmoil, Kangpokpi Christian Tribal Churches Leaders Fellowship has decided to organise a massive mass prayer at Brig M Thomas Ground, Kangpokpi on August 3 from 8 am .