Manipur: Tribe body shuts down Kuki dominated areas for 12 hours, demands release of detained Kuki-Zo members
Kuki Inpi Manipur’s (KIM), called for a 12-hour total shutdown. representative photo
The apex group of the Kuki tribes in the Indian state of Manipurhas demanded the immediate and unconditional release of five Kuki-Zo people who were detained by central forces twice, from the Tamenglong and Kangpokpi districts. The group,Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM),has called for a 12-hour total shutdown, supported by various Kuki-Zo civil bodies, on Wednesday (July 10).
From 6:00 amto 6:00 pm (local time), the whole Kuki-Zo-dominated region of Manipur was placed under lockdown. In the majority of Manipur's Kuki-dominated districts, such as Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, the closure has interfered with daily life.
“The recent arrest of five Kuki-Zo individuals in the presence of Central Security Forces is critically alarming for the Kuki-Zo people, while valley-based militant groups are openly brandishing sophisticated arms and ammunition in the valley,” KIM said in a statement.
“The protest is against the gross injustice meted out to our people,” the statement added.
Main markets, colleges, and schools in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and other villages were closed during the complete closure.
Many demonstrators staged sit-ins at many locations along National Highway 37 (Imphal Silchar via Jiribam route), including Tuibong, Peace Ground, Churachandpur; Leimakhong, Kangpokpi,and L Hengjol village inKangpokpi district.
Furthermore, demonstrators, including a considerable number of women, obstructed NH-37 throughout the demonstration. On Tuesday evening, the Kuki-Zo community in Kangpokpi district staged a demonstration outside the superintendent of police's (SP) office on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur), calling for the unconditional release of the five individuals.
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According to a statement released by Manipur police on Tuesday, two of the five people were taken into custody from Phaijol village in Tamenglong after an armed group from the same area attackedofficers.
The remaining three members of a militant group were detained by a joint squad from L Hengjol village after receiving a tip from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), police said.
Additionally, according to police, the three people were handed over to the NIA for further investigation, along with weapons and ammunition, including two AK rifles, one single-barrel bore rifle, and an MA1 MK-3 rifle.
(With inputs from agencies)
