Manipur: Economic blockade in Kuki-Zo areas, shutdown in Kangpokpi

An economic blockade by a tribal body was underway in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas in Manipur on Friday to protest against alleged action by security forces on women in a village in Kangpokpi district, officials said on Friday.

Another organisation, Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), also observed a 24-hour shutdown in the district to protest against the alleged baton charge on women on 31 December in Saibol village.

The tribal body Kuki-Zo Council said the economic blockade that started from midnight of 2 January would continue until 2.00 am on Saturday to protest "disregard for tribal rights and dignity". Vehicular movement and transportation of essential commodities passing through Kuki-Zo inhabited areas would be restricted during the blockade, the organisation said.

The Kuki Zo Council would intensify its protest if the women injured in the alleged baton charge by security forces are not compensated, the tribal body's chairman Henlienthang Thanglet said in Churachandpur.

A clash broke out between a mob led by Kuki-Zo women and security forces in Kangpokpi district on Tuesday, triggering fresh tension in the ethnic strife-hit state. The incident occurred after the mob tried to “disrupt” the deployment of a combined team of Army, BSF and CRPF, the police had said in a post on X.

"The economic blockade will be reimposed if the government fails to maintain the buffer zone's sanctity which is in the hands of the administration," Thanglet said.

The buffer zone is a neutral area serving to separate groups belonging to warring Kuki and Meitei community members.

The council also extended its support to the total shutdown called by CoTU in Kangpokpi district. The tribal organisation had observed a 12-hour shutdown from 2.00 pm on Thursday, but the protest failed to "elicit a positive response from the government", a CoTU official said. "The committee is now observing a 24-hour shutdown," he said.

The tribal organisation also demanded the immediate withdrawal of central forces at Saibol, terming their presence as "unnecessary and provocative". A sit-in was also held near the Moreh Youth Club office in Tengnoupal against the alleged atrocities on Kuki Zo women by security forces.

More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence in Manipur since May 2023.

Meanwhile, Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh on Friday claimed that those who are indulging in politics over his apology to the people on the 20-month-long ethnic conflict are seeking unrest in the northeastern state, and said his government's priority is to restore peace.

Claiming that "past is past", he appealed to communities to sit together and find a permanent solution to the conflict.

"Those who are indulging in politics over my statement are seeking unrest. The opposition has no ideology. What I said was an expression of sadness and grief...My apology was to those who have been suffering and have lost their loved ones. Why should I say sorry to terrorists? I am saying sorry to the innocent people and those who were displaced from their homes," Singh said.

The chief minister had on Tuesday apologised for the ethnic conflict in the state and appealed to all communities to forget and forgive past mistakes and start afresh.

"I convey my peace message to the community members residing in the state. Again, let us forgive and forget. Past is past. We should sit together and find a permanent solution. Priority should be the restoration of peace," he added.