CoTU imposes total shutdown along NH-37, warns of indefinite total shutdown in entire district from October 5

Apart from imposing a 15-hour total shutdown from 6 a.m. of October 3 till 9 p.m. on the same day as a mark of commemorating the fifth-month Manipur violence, the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills Kangpokpi district imposed a total shutdown along the National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam) road with effect from 4:00 pm of October 2 in connection with an alleged abduction of a Kuki-Zo individuals by armed Meitei miscreants from New Keithelmanbi area on September 30.

According to CoTU Media Cell Coordinator, Ng. Lun Kipgen, on September 30 one Satthang Kipgen (52), son of Kamlun Kipgen of Bijang village in New Keithelmanbi area in Kangpokpi district was abducted by armed Meitei miscreants.

He said that the total shutdown has already been imposed along National Highway-37 in connection with the abduction of Satthang Kipgen and it will continue till the concerned authority expedites the release of the abducted man.

The Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills Kangpokpi district also served a 48-hour ultimatum to the Union Home Ministry for the release of Kuki-Zo individuals including two minors arrested by the CBI and NIA on flimsy ground while cautioning that in case the Union Home Ministry failed to intervene and the arrested individuals are not released during the stipulated time, an indefinite total shutdown will be imposed in the entire Kangpokpi district from October 5.

CoTU's Media Cell Coordinator, Ng. Lun Kipgen said that we vehemently condemned the arbitrary approach and an attempt to bring one-sided justice in the state-sponsored communal conflict.

He continued that if arrests can be made with the flimsy ground of evidence such as IMEI of a mobile phone, why do the concerned authorities such as the CBI and NIA have to take time to investigate cases and arrest the culprits with video footage proof and social media evidence such as looting of arms and ammunition from the state armories, the beheading of David Thiek, the parading naked of Kuki-Zo women and later gang-raped, the massacre of three Kuki-Zo individuals in Kangchup area, raping and murder of Florence Hangshing and Olivia Chongloi and burning of a minor boy along with his mother and aunty inside an ambulance.

Ng. Lun Kipgen further said that the arrest of one Seimunlun Gangte by the NIA on the pretext of Transnational Conspiracy is unacceptable as it is an ulterior motive to veer the arrest of one Moirangthem Anand, a PLA cadre who had been arrested several times on charge of Transnational Conspiracy.

He then said that as a citizen of India, we cannot accept biased and selective targets made against our community and therefore, we are compelled to serve a 48-hour ultimatum to the Union Home Ministry to instruct the central agencies such as the CBI and the NIA to release the Kuki-Zo individuals arrested on flimsy ground.

He also said that in case of non-intervention by the Union Home Ministry after the lapses of the ultimatum, there will be an indefinite total shutdown in the entire Sadar Hills Kangpokpi district with immediate effect from October 5.

Meanwhile, the arrest of four individuals and detention of two minors by the Central Bureau of Investigation, or the CBI on Sunday in connection with the ongoing investigation of cases related to violence in Manipur earned strong condemnation from various Kuki-Zo tribal bodies.

The Kuki-Zo tribal womenfolk protested against the arrest and blocked all roads leading to different places while a sit-in protest was also held in front of the Mini-Secretariat and Superintendent of Police office in Churachandpur district hours after the arrest.

The CBI stated that it had registered two cases at the request of the Manipur Government on August 23 and had taken over the investigation of these cases earlier registered by the state police on the complaints of parents of minor victims vide FIR No. 584(7) 2023 dated 08.07.2023 at Police Station Imphal and FIR No.1009(7)2023 dated 19.07.2023 at Police Station Lamphel.

During the investigation of these cases, four persons have been arrested and they will be produced before the Competent Court at Guwahati designated as per the orders of the Supreme Court, the CBI stated.

It also stated that two minor children, who accompanied the said arrested accused during transit from Manipur's Imphal to Assam's Guwahati have been handed over to the District Children Protection Officer, Kamrup Metro District for their welfare, protection, and care.

The Joint Student Body (JSB) of Lamka has called a “12-hour total shutdown” in the entire district of Lamka (Churachandpur) in protest against the arrest, on October 2.

It identified the arrested persons as Seimalsom @ Boisom Haokip, President, KSO, Leimata Block; Paominlun Haokip, Secretary, KSO, Leimata Block; Lhingneichong Haokip, Tinneilhing, Tinneikhol ( 11 yrs) and Kimneijem (9 yrs).

It also said the news that one woman was picked up by the CBI team without the presence of female police personnel is highly condemnable and any such instances will be strongly opposed in the future.

Strongly condemning the alleged inhumane act of transporting even children along with the other arrestees, the Joint Student Body also warned that any person with arms and moving around in plain clothes would be stopped and action would be taken against them in the future and announced to the general public that if they see any such people moving around in plain clothes and behaving in a suspicious manner, they should take action against them as they deem fit.

While voicing their frustration at the alleged “selective targeting of Kuki-Zomi-Mizo people” in the investigation of cases by even central agencies, the JSB stated that it would oppose the biased selection of Police cases involving their people while the numerous cases of heinous crimes against their people are left ignored.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) also declared an indefinite shutdown from 10 am on October 2 and warned the central agencies – NIA and CBI to release the alleged abductees within 48 hours, failing which a more intense agitation will follow in all hill districts of Manipur.

It also declared that all boundary areas with the Meitei will be sealed from October 2 and no one will be allowed to leave or enter the buffer zones while all government offices will be closed from October 2.

Vehemently condemning the CBI's arrests, the Kuki Students' Organization General Headquarters stated that the abduction of innocent civilians, particularly minors, is a gross violation of human rights and an affront to the principles of justice and humanity.

The Kuki student's apex body also clarified that Boisawm Haokip and Paominlun Haokip are neither KNF Zogam cadre nor have any involvement in the cases, rather they are the President and General Secretary of KSO Leimata Block respectively.

The Kuki Student Organization believed in the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served impartially and without discrimination, it stated.

It also stated that the abduction of innocent civilians and minors is a grave concern, as it not only jeopardizes their well-being but also has severe emotional and psychological repercussions.

The student body then called upon the relevant authorities, including the CBI, to - ensure the safe return of the abducted civilians, especially the minors, to their families, providing them with the care and support they require; uphold the principles of justice, human rights, and child protection, and work to prevent such incidents in the future; and engage in open dialogue with the concerned communities to address their concerns and create an atmosphere of trust and cooperation.

It also conveyed its deep appalled, and concern about the selective and discrimination of opening cases by the Central Government Agencies including the recent events involving the CBI while stating that such an act of unfair prejudice reflects inequality in delivering justice and cautioned any agency not to act hastily due to political pressure which could further create a mayhem.

KSO-GHQ also expressed strong condemnation of a recent Facebook post by Chief Minister Biren Singh, stating that the Chief Minister publicly supports the arrest of individuals without any proof or evidence.

"Such statements by a public official carry significant weight and responsibility, and they have the potential to influence public opinion and crippled the principles of justice and due process", it stated.

It also stated that Chief Minister N. Biren Singh must refrain from making such statements that prejudge or influence ongoing investigations, as these can have far-reaching consequences in delivering justice.

While endorsing the shutdown called by the ITLF and JSB Lamka, KSO General Headquarters stated that the shutdown is a resentment of the Kuki-Zo community towards the partiality of the Government and appealed to the general public to abide by the agitation.

Meanwhile, the Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex body of the Kuki tribes, also expressed deep resentment against the CBI's arrests and utter dismay over the alleged selective/exclusive justice against the Kuki-Zo people.

KIM Information and Publicity Secretary, Janghaolun Haokip said that when arrests are made on grounds of suspicion against the Kuki-Zo community, why are the culprits of the barbaric beheading, mutilation, rape, and immolation against the Kuki-Zo people not apprehended in the same manner.

"This only substantiated the fact that the Manipur state government is altogether manipulating law and order and constitutional values and principles in the state to fit into its nefarious agenda of wiping out the Kuki-Zo community from the Manipur state", he added.

Consequently, the Kuki Inpi Manipur is dismayed at how long the central leadership will allow this miserable state of "lawlessness/statelessness" in the state, and allow the State leadership under N. Biren Singh to execute anti-state, anti-constitutional, anti-national agendas in the interest of the radicalized Meiteis to exploit, dehumanize, and terrorize the Kuki-Zo community, he further added.

He then said that the Kuki Inpi Manipur demanded the immediate release of the abductees who were arrested in a breach of law and order and constitutional norms, of "equal protection of law/equality before the law" enshrined in the Constitution of India Article 14; and draw the attention of all concerned that the Kuki Inpi Manipur; all its federating units and the Kuki-Zo people as a whole will not be responsible for any untoward incident progressing out of the constant suppression and oppression of our community by the Manipur state government.