Regular life was disrupted in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Friday when members of a tribal organisation took out an indefinite shutdown in the district in protest against the murder of an elderly Kuki woman. Markets and commercial units were closed, while road traffic movement was halted as Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum activists, including women, blocked major roads in the district.
The stick-wielding protesters took to the streets protesting against the killing of Hoikholhing Haokip in a crossfire between security personnel and unidentified armed miscreants.
Attendance at offices of the government was thin even as schools continued to be shut for the day, an official reported. ITLF had declared the shutdown following Haokip's killing in the crossfire between security personnel and armed men on Thursday night.
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The incident came after security forces had proceeded to carry out operations in the Langchingmanbi and Heichanglok regions.
Seeing the security personnel, the armed miscreants opened fire against them, and hence a gun battle ensued.
The ITLF issued a call for firm action from the central government for the protection of tribal people and their land. It demanded an independent inquiry into frequent violations of the buffer zones in the affected conflict areas. In the meantime, a 24-hour shutdown has also been summoned in the Kangpokpi district starting at 1 pm on Friday.
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It was the Committee on Tribal Unity and the joint CSOs of Churachandpur that sanctioned the imposition of the shutdown. Over 260 lives have been lost and thousands left homeless in ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
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