CoTU shutdown brings life in Manipur's Kangpokpi to standstill over killing of 71-year-old Kuki man

A 24-hour total shutdown called by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) brought normal life across Manipur’s Kangpokpi district to a near standstill on Monday, October 5 following the killing of 71-year-old Hemjang Haokip, who was abducted from his farm hut on October 3.

The shutdown began at midnight and was called in protest against Haokip’s killing. His body was recovered late on Sunday afternoon following an extensive search by villagers and security forces. It was brought to the Kangpokpi district headquarters late Sunday night before being shifted to Churachandpur for preservation at a morgue.

Shops, business establishments, private institutions and schools remained closed across the district. Government office functioning was also affected, while vehicular movement along National Highway-2 was halted, barring vehicles and services covered under exemptions.

At Bongmol village, shutdown volunteers, largely women, enforced the shutdown by stopping vehicles covered under the order and restricting local vehicular movement. Volunteers checked documents of vehicles seeking exemption, including those carrying media personnel and providing medical emergency and airport-related services.

Several vehicles travelling along NH-2 were stopped at Bongmol and made to take U-turns in both directions. The highway was blocked with benches placed across the road, effectively bringing traffic movement to a halt in the area.

The shutdown came amid widespread anger and grief over the death of Haokip, whose abduction from his farm hut and subsequent killing has triggered strong reactions among members of the Kuki-Zo community.

Central security forces were deployed along the highway and monitored the situation during the shutdown.

No untoward incident had been reported till the filing of this report.