As the 24-hour total shutdown is underway along the National Highway-2 in all Kuki-Zo dominated areas in Manipur, the Committee on Tribal Unity, or the CoTU, Sadar Hills, which spearheaded the stir in Kangpokpi district urged the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah to removed Meitei police forces, Meitei terrorists, and Valley-Based surrendered Insurgents groups from the border town Moreh.
CoTU also urged the Union Home Minister to reimpose the Armed Forces Special Power Act, or the AFSPA, in all the valley districts.
The 24-hour total shutdown imposed by the CoTU Sadar Hills and ITLF Churachandpur commenced in the zero hours of this morning.
The total shutdown was imposed to protest against the alleged atrocities of the Meitei state forces and to demand their removal from all Kuki-Zo districts in Manipur.
Volunteers were seen putting up stones, and empty coal tar tin on the highway, blocking the otherwise busy Imphal-Dimapur road, the main lifeline of the state.
Vehicles plying along the highway were not allowed to proceed further from Kangpokpi town and were sent back by the volunteers.
The volunteers joined by the regular night duty goers enforced the total shutdown exactly at zero hour this morning.
The two top Kuki-Zo tribal bodies urged the Central Government to remove all Meitei state forces, especially commandos from Moreh and the surrounding tribal majority settlements stating that there could be "No Peace" as long as they are deployed in the area.
It also stated that if Meitei forces are allowed to continue operating and harassing the Kuki-Zo tribals, the Government will be held responsible for any future security issues.
In the same vein, the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, or the KISH also vehemently condemned the alleged unabated attacks on the Kuki-Zo civilians by the combined forces of Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun, and Manipur Police Commandos and demand their removal from Moreh
All shops and business establishments in Kangpokpi town remained closed for the day while the otherwise busy National Highway-2 wore a deserted look as vehicular movement along the Highway has been strongly restricted.
However, no untoward incident has been reported till the filing of this report.
CoTU's Information & Publicity Secretary, Thangtinlen Haokip said that the Committee on Tribal Unity, along with the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum, is compelled to impose a 24-hour total shutdown in all Kuki-Zo areas as we vehemently condemned the atrocities committed by the Manipur police personnel and Meitei terrorists in Moreh town against innocent civilians.
"We demand the immediate removal of Meitei personnel from the Kuki-Zo areas", he added.
He also recalled that in the last four days alone, three innocent civilians were kidnapped and beaten up black and blue, while three houses were torched in Tengnoupal's Moreh areas.
He said that the condition of the three civilians are critical.
While strongly condemning the atrocities against innocent civilians and their properties, Haokip appealed to the Union Home Minister to remove all the Meitei armed personnel including terrorists and surrendered valley-based insurgent groups from the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas including Moreh.
He also cautioned that CoTU will continue with a series of intense agitation if the demands are not meted and any untoward incident arising out of it shall be the sole responsibility of the state government.
CoTU also condemned the dismantling of bunkers and properties used by the Kuki-Zo volunteers at the Purum-Gangpijang Hill range of the Saikul subdivision in Kangpokpi district on 30 December 2023.
Thangtinlen Haokip said that such action is detrimental for our survival as it poses a serious threat to our safety and security.
"Any further attempt to dismantle the bunkers will not be tolerated", he added.
The Committee also appealed to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah to immediately reimpose the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the entire Valley District for the Indian army to tackle the situation.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
