48-hour CoTU shutdown ends, economic blockade remains
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, November 22 2023:
The 48-hour total shutdown in Kangpokpi district enforced by Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, came to an end on Wednesday at 6 pm.
However, the economic blockade along NH-2 and NH-37 imposed by CoTU, remain in force.
CoTU imposed the 48-hour emergency total shutdown in response to the killing of two Kuki-Zo individuals, including an IRB jawan in an attack on November 20 .
The second day of CoTU's total shutdown witnessed complete halt in activities, with shops, schools, and vehicle movement along NH-2 coming to a standstill.
In the midst of the ongoing total shutdown and economic blockade, CoTU organised a protest at Leikop along NH 2 to draw attention of the central government to several demands including CBI enquiry into Monday's incident and urging the Union home ministry to address the demands within five days.
During the protest, participants, mostly Kuki-Zo women, raised slogans such as "We Demand CBI inquiry," "We Want Justice," and "We Demand Separate Administration".
CoTU media cell coordinator Ng Lun Kipgen condemned the killing of two Kuki-Zo individuals on Monday, which according to him, was carried out by insurgent groups armed with sophisticated weapons.
Kipgen cited videos and images purportedly showing insurgents celebrating with a feast after committing the crime.
He raised concerns about the arrest of Kuki-Zo individuals on mere suspicion without concrete evidence and expressed diminishing trust in the law and the Central government while cautioning that continuation of the current system would be a mockery of democratic and constitutional values.
He further urged the Prime Minister and the Union home minister not to treat minorities as sacrificial lambs for the majority community but to consider minority sentiments beyond electoral politics.
He also outlined the five points to be addressed by the Union home minister within five days while adding that failure to address these points would lead to review of their agitation strategy for more intense protest.
These points included addressing non-reciprocity on essential items and medical supplies from the valley to Kuki-Zo areas, biased resettlement of displaced Meeteis in Kuki-Zo areas, selective security protection for Meetei farmers, constitutional breaches regarding tribal developmental funds, and non-response to demand for political separation.
He enquired if the Kuki-Zo were considered "lesser Indians" and called upon the Prime Minister and the Union home minister to prioritise the cases of Kuki-Zo people without step-motherly treatment.
Shutdown supporters and CoTU volunteers were seen strictly enforcing the shutdown along National Highway 2 (NH-2) between Imphal and Dimapur.
They burned tyres on the road and blocked NH-2 at various locations in the Kangpokpi district up to Gamgiphai.
Emergency services, including media, medical, water supply, and CoTU volunteers, were exempted from the shutdown.
No untoward incidents were reported during the shutdown period.