Manipur: Indefinite shutdown paralyzes Kangpokpi as Kuki-Zo Community demands SP’s removal

The Kuki-Zo community in Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi District, Maniour has enforced an indefinite shutdown, spearheaded by the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), in response to the fatal shooting of a young protestor, Lalgouthang Singsit. The 22-year-old died during clash with security forces at Keithelmanbi Military Colony on March 8.

The shutdown, which commenced at midnight on March 8, has brought life to a standstill in Kuki-Zo-dominated areas. Hundreds of Kuki-Zo women took to the streets, ensuring complete adherence, while all commercial establishments, educational institutions, and private offices remained shut. Vehicular movement was restricted, with only emergency services permitted to operate under the watch of women volunteers.

A high-level meeting was convened at Keithelmanbi Military Colony, bringing together representatives from key civil society organizations, including the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Kuki Inpi, and the Kuki Students’ Organization (KSO). Although the resolutions of the meeting were not disclosed, the groups confirmed their decision to refrain from claiming Singsit’s body, which remains in the District Hospital Kangpokpi morgue.

Meanwhile, Kuki-Zo women gathered at the hospital to mourn the deceased, intensifying calls for justice. CoTU spokesperson Ng. Lun Kipgen condemned the alleged brutality of Kangpokpi Superintendent of Police (SP), accusing him of orchestrating not just Singsit's killing but also the destruction of homes, an ambulance, and private vehicles in Keithelmanbi Military Colony.

Kipgen called upon the Governor to immediately transfer the SP, asserting that such action was necessary to restore peace in the district.