Shutdown hits normal life in Manipur’s Kangpokpi for second day over killing of two Kuki youths

Normal life remained affected in Kangpokpi district for the second consecutive day on Tuesday as a Kuki organisation continued its shutdown to protest against the alleged failure of the Manipur government to take action over the killing of two Kuki community youths.

Several goods-laden vehicles bound for Imphal through National Highway-2 (NH-2) were also unable to enter Kangpokpi district and remained stranded in neighbouring Senapati district.

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), a prominent Kuki-Zo organisation, had called the shutdown to condemn what it described as the state government's inaction over the killing of two Kuki civilians.


The bodies of the two Kuki youths, who had gone missing on October 28, were recovered on November 1 following multiple search operations conducted by joint teams of the Manipur Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Assam Rifles.

Following the recovery of the bodies, CoTU initially called a 24-hour shutdown in Kangpokpi district from Sunday. The organisation subsequently extended the shutdown by another 48 hours on Monday evening.

In a statement, the Kuki organisation said the shutdown had been extended to protest the government's "shameful indecision, unacceptable silence and continued failure to initiate any tangible action to deliver justice for the brutal and inhumane killing of two innocent Kuki Zo civilians".

The tribal organisation further asserted that the Kuki-Zo people would not accept "empty assurances and administrative excuses in place of justice" and demanded time-bound action against those responsible for the killings.

Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen had earlier urged the authorities concerned to make every possible effort to trace and rescue the two Kuki youths who went missing from Kangpokpi district on the evening of October 28.

In an earlier statement, Kipgen had strongly condemned the alleged abduction of the two youths from the vicinity of Taphou Kuki village on Wednesday evening.

Another deputy Chief minister, Losii Dikho, a senior Naga leader, also condemned the killing of the two youths. More than 50 people have reportedly been killed and dozens of houses torched in clashes between the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities since February this year.

Former chief minister N Biren Singh stated in X, "This is not about politics. It is about national security, safeguarding our borders and protecting the future of our people. The Mizoram Government has demonstrated the importance of vigilance by closely monitoring the influx of illegal immigrants and taking measures to protect the State’s interests.

"Similarly, it would be in the public interest for the Manipur Home Department to regularly share updated information on biometric data collected, including the number of individuals identified and verified. Such transparency would strengthen public confidence and reaffirm the Government’s commitment to protecting the State’s security and the interests of its indigenous communities."