Violence, shutdown in Kuki areas over MLAs joining Manipur government

Imphal: The joining of Kuki -Zo legislators in the government in Manipur has sparked fresh violence in the Kuki inhabited areas. Friday saw a shutdown in the Kuki areas.

At least five people had been injured on Thursday evening after a mob clashed with security forces in the Kuki-Zo tribal-dominated Churachandpur district of Manipur. Some five protestors were picked up by police in this regard.

Protesters gathered at Tuibong Bazaar, torched discarded materials and burnt tyres while raising slogans against deputy chief minister Nemcha Kipgen, a BJP legislator of the Kuki-Zo community.


The situation escalated when central and state security forces attempted to disperse the crowd. The mob initially outnumbered the security personnel on the spot and resorted to stone-pelting, prompting the forces to carry out a baton charge.

Additional security personnel were later deployed in the trouble-hit areas. At least five protesters sustained minor injuries in the incident. This continued till early morning. Security forces fired tear gas shells, too, it was reported. A senior police officer said the situation remains tense, and that senior security officials have rushed to the area to oversee efforts to restore normalcy.

Tension has been simmering in Churachandpur district since Wednesday evening after Kipgen, who is from Kangpokpi district, virtually took oath as deputy chief minister from Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, the Kuki-Zo Council, the top body of the Kuki-Zo tribal community, on Thursday declared a social boycott of all Kuki-Zo MLAs who participated in the formation of the Manipur government.

Three of the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs - Nemcha Kipgen, LM Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate - have so far been involved in the government formation process. Seven, including Kipgen, Khaute and Sanate, belong to BJP, while the remaining three are affiliated with local Kuki-Zo organisations.