A 72-hour total shutdown called by the Committee on Tribal Unity, Sadar Hills, has begun in Kangpokpi district from July 16 midnight.
The shutdown was imposed by the CoTU following the torching of three trucks belonging to Misao Gas Service and the alleged continuous attack on Kuki-Zo villages in the peripheral areas of Kangpokpi district.
Shops, trades, educational institutions, and government offices remained shut while the National Highway-2 wore a deserted look as vehicles, including private vehicles, stayed off the road except those exempted from the purview of the total shutdown.
Medical services and examinations were exempted from the purview of the total shutdown.
At some locations along the National Highway-2, womenfolk and volunteers were seen monitoring the exempted vehicles all day. They were seen stopping the exempted vehicles and verifying the authenticity of their pass.
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Speaking on the sidelines of the total shutdown, CoTU general secretary Lamminlun Singsit said that the first day of the total shutdown ended peacefully without any untoward incidents while womenfolk and volunteers were strictly monitoring the total shutdown at various strategic locations.
He said the total shutdown has been imposed to demonstrate their discontentment over the torching of Misao Gas Service trucks and the continuous attack on Kuki-Zo villages in the peripheral area of Kangpokpi district.
He said that even after Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh assured to control the valley-based radical groups and the mobs led by womenfolk, firing, attacking, and killing still continue in the Kuki-Zo tribal areas.
Meanwhile, the CoTU's general secretary appreciated the timely intervention of the Central Government in deploying adequate Central forces, Army, and the Assam Rifles in the peripheral area of Kangpokpi district. He also appreciated the Centre for its much-awaited decision to resume the Kuki-Zo political talks with the UPF and KNO on July 26.
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"We are so thankful to the Central Government for wholeheartedly pursuing the Kuki-Zo political issues by deciding to resume the political talks with our representatives, the UPF and KNO on July 26," asserted Singsit.
He also said, "We hope the Central Government will address the Kuki-Zo problems and initiate measures to provide an immediate permanent solution in the form of a Separate Administration during the talks".
No untoward incidents have been reported till the filing of this report on the first day of CoTU's 72-hour total shutdown in Kangpokpi district.
