Strongly fulminating the continuous violence in the form of attacks, torching, and killing upon the Kuki-Zo people, the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi decided to impose a 72-hour total shutdown along the National Highway -2 from midnight of July 16.
The CoTU decision to impose the total shutdown came during its emergency meeting held at Gamgiphai this afternoon where it also resolved various other resolutions as well.
During the total shutdown, all shops and vehicle movement including private vehicles will completely cease in the district.
However, medical services only will be exempted from the purview of the total shutdown.
CoTU General Secretary, Lamminlun Singsit said that yesterday in the Sekmai area, the unruly mobs led by the Meira Paibi torched three trucks of M/S Misao Gas Service.
Secondly, he alleged that Myanmar-based Meitei insurgents infiltrating into Manipur, in collusion with the Meitei radicals like the Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun attacked Kuki-Zo village Thangbuh and Tingkai Khullen in Kangpokpi district today at around 10:00 am and killed one innocent Kuki-Zo volunteer.
The Kuki-Zo volunteer killed in the attack has been identified as Jangkholun Haokip (34), son of Jangkhai Haokip of Thangbuh village.
While vehemently condemning the continuous attack, torching, and killing of the Kuki-Zo people, the CoTU decided to impose a total shutdown in the entire Kangpokpi district including a blockade along the National Highway – 2.
CoTU General Secretary, Lamminlun Singsit also said that despite the lifting of the highway blockade by the KNO and UPF, the valley people led by the Meira Paibi blocked all routes connecting the Kuki-Zo people settlements from Imphal, and no essential commodities were allowed to transport into Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.
The CoTU also resolved in its meeting today that all business establishments and vehicle movement including private vehicles will be allowed to open or give passage from 6:00 to 12 noon only from July 18, which means all business establishments and vehicle movement will be restricted from noon onwards every day.
It also resolved that all educational institutions including Government, private, and also students from Kangpokpi studying outside the district will be completely closed until further notice.
The CoTU appeals to the Centre Government to take stringent action against the Meitei radical outfit and address the problems and immediate solutions demanding separate administration of the Kuki-Zo people.
Meanwhile, the CoTU also strongly condemned the attack on Kuki-Zo village, Phaileng in the peripheral area of Kangpokpi the whole day from early morning today by the alleged Myanmar-based insurgents in collusion with the Meitei radicals group Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun using sophisticated weapons and bombs.
The firing of gunshot and bombs were heard till the filing of this report in the Phaileng area in the peripheral area of Kangpokpi district.
