Shutdown total at Kpi, CCpur
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal/Kpi, March 09 2025: Total shutdown imposed by Kuki civil organisations affected normal life in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and other Kuki-dominated areas and traffic along the National Highways.

Protesters, defying Centre's initiative for peace and free movement, thronged the streets in Kangpokpi district, and all shops and institutions remained shut.

Protesters burnt tyres in the middle of the road and placed obstacles including big boulders and stones to stop vehicular movement along the Imphal-Dimapur road.

Despite the presence of large number of security forces, the shutdown was effective and hindered free movement of people and vehicles.

Shutdown total at Kpi, CCpur

Although there were reports of protesters pelting stones at security forces in Kuki-dominated areas, no casualties have been reported.

The indefinite shutdown paralysed Kangpokpi, even as Kuki civil bodies have demanded removal of the district Superintendent of Police.

The body of a protester, Lalgouthang Singsit, who was killed in security forces' crackdown yesterday has not been claimed yet.

Hundreds of Kuki-Zo women took to the streets today to enforce the indefinite shutdown.

All shops, businesses, private institutions, and educational centres remained closed, and only emergency services were exempted from the purview of the shutdown.

Meanwhile, a meeting was convened at Keithelmanbi Military Colony, attended by key civil society organisations, including CoTU, Kuki Inpi, and KSO, to discuss the fate of Lalgouthang Singsit's unclaimed body.

While the organisations refrained from disclosing their resolutions, they confirmed that the body will not be claimed.

The body is lying at the District Hospital Kangpokpi.

At the hospital, Ng Lun Kipgen, spokesperson of CoTU, strongly condemned the "brutality of SP Kangpokpi", and held him "responsible" for Singsit's death and damage to homes, an ambulance, and private vehicles in Keithelmanbi Military Colony.

Denouncing what he called "high-handedness and brutality" of the SP Kangpokpi, Kipgen made a direct appeal to the Governor, demanding the officer's immediate transfer "if peace is to be restored" .