KSO shutdown total in CCpur, Kpi
Source: Chronicle News Service
CCpur/Kpi, November 02 2023:
The 48-hour statewide shutdown called by Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), General Headquarters since Wednesday midnight hit normal life in Churachandpur as many people enforced the shutdown, which will continue till Friday midnight.
The shutdown in Churachandpur jointly enforced by KSO Churachandpur and Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF) was total as all markets in the town were deserted and no shops were opened.
Government offices, educational institutions and business establishments were also closed and the town looks deserted.
According to KSO Churachandpur secretary Minlal, the 48-hour shutdown has been called in the entire state of Manipur in protest against injustice meted out towards the Kuki-Zo tribal communities.
He also said that KSO takes strong exception to continued stationing and additional deployment of Manipur police commandos in Moreh border town since the wee hours of November 1 and demanded withdrawal of state forces from Moreh.
Similar to Churachandpur, shops and business establishments and educational institutions in Kangpokpi district remained closed while National Highway-2 wore a deserted look as vehicles stayed off the road on the first day of the 48 hours total shutdown imposed by KSO general headquarters and Committee on Tribal Unity, (CoTU) Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi.
Volunteers were seen enforcing the total shutdown and blocking the highway at various places while protests organised by CoTU were held at Kangpokpi town, Saparmeina and Gamgiphai with thousands of people mostly womenfolk in attendance.
At Gamgiphai, CoTU media cell coordinator Ng Lun Kipgen said the protests were organised against deployment of police commandos in Moreh and to demand immediate pullout of state force from the border town.
While drawing attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, Lun Kipgen said that chief minister of Manipur has misused executive power in deploying state security forces in Kuki-Zo dominated areas including Moreh town.
The protests and shutdown are not imposed against the government of India but against the excessive use of executive power by chief minister, he said and urged CM N Biren Singh not to play politics but at least have a resemblance of responsibility.
He then urged the PM to instruct the CM of Manipur to withdraw state forces from Kuki-Zo dominated areas especially from Moreh.