Guwahati/Imphal: The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) at Sadar Hills in Kangpokpi district announced a 12-hour shutdown in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas of Manipur, demanding the withdrawal of central security forces from the Saibol area.
Over 40 women were injured in clashes with security forces on Dec 31 while defending “community bunkers” in the hilly region.
The shutdown, declared across Kuki-Zo inhabited areas of Manipur, began at 2pm on Thursday and will end at 2am on Friday. It has mostly affected Kangpokpi and the periphery areas of the Valley, as well as Tengnoupal, Jiribam and Churachandpur districts. This shutdown has been implemented in addition to the indefinite economic blockade already in effect along National Highway-2.
Of the injured women, several are reportedly in critical condition, and two were transferred to Guwahati for advanced medical care. Lamminlun Singsit, general secretary of CoTU, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi, said the central security forces must withdraw from Saibol hills, where they advanced by crossing the buffer zone.
“We have issued an ultimatum to the authorities concerned that Kuki-Zos, particularly CoTU, are not opposed to the central forces. However, any central forces deployed in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas, specifically Kangpokpi district, should be under Kangpokpi SP. Otherwise, if the central forces are regulated by the Valley, numerous issues arise similar to the incident on Dec 31,” he said, noting substantial concerns regarding the unexpected deployment of central forces atop the Saibol area. Hence, he said the women ventured to the area to compel the central forces to retreat.
CoTU’s primary demand before the DC and the SP has been the immediate withdrawal of all central forces deployed in the Saibol area, following which CoTU indicated a willingness to participate in discussions regarding which central forces should remain near the buffer zone. CoTU and other Kuki-Zo groups have been opposing the crossing of the buffer zone by central security forces in the area, despite CM N Biren Singh’s assertion that Indian security forces can move anywhere within the country.
The buffer zone divides Kuki-Zo and Meitei inhabited villages. The CoTU leaders maintain that SP Kangpokpi should oversee security forces’ movements within the district to prevent communication gaps between the SP and civil society organisations. The buffer zone lies in the paddy field in the foothills of Saibol hills.
CoTU, through a media statement on Wednesday, highlighted the govt’s indifference to their repeated appeals for central forces’ withdrawal from Saibol. During the 12-hour shutdown, vehicular movements were affected, while commercial establishments and educational institutions were shut in the bandh-affected areas. Nevertheless, essential services, including healthcare and emergency responses, shall be exempt from the shutdown to ensure humanitarian considerations.
The commmittee said the presence of central forces in Saibol demonstrated serious disregard for their people’s voices and compromised peace. “The presence of central forces in Saibol, despite widespread concerns from the tribal populace, symbolises a grave disregard for the voices of our people. This deployment has disrupted the everyday lives of civilians and created an atmosphere of fear and mistrust, undermining the peace and harmony of our communities,” the statement said.
“The ongoing economic blockade and the forthcoming shutdown reflect the profound frustration and helplessness experienced by the tribal communities due to the govt’s inaction,” it further stated. Additionally, CoTU has urged public solidarity with their cause and requested govt engagement in resolving the impasse.
Over 40 women were injured in clashes with security forces on Dec 31 while defending “community bunkers” in the hilly region.
The shutdown, declared across Kuki-Zo inhabited areas of Manipur, began at 2pm on Thursday and will end at 2am on Friday. It has mostly affected Kangpokpi and the periphery areas of the Valley, as well as Tengnoupal, Jiribam and Churachandpur districts. This shutdown has been implemented in addition to the indefinite economic blockade already in effect along National Highway-2.
Of the injured women, several are reportedly in critical condition, and two were transferred to Guwahati for advanced medical care. Lamminlun Singsit, general secretary of CoTU, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi, said the central security forces must withdraw from Saibol hills, where they advanced by crossing the buffer zone.
“We have issued an ultimatum to the authorities concerned that Kuki-Zos, particularly CoTU, are not opposed to the central forces. However, any central forces deployed in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas, specifically Kangpokpi district, should be under Kangpokpi SP. Otherwise, if the central forces are regulated by the Valley, numerous issues arise similar to the incident on Dec 31,” he said, noting substantial concerns regarding the unexpected deployment of central forces atop the Saibol area. Hence, he said the women ventured to the area to compel the central forces to retreat.
CoTU’s primary demand before the DC and the SP has been the immediate withdrawal of all central forces deployed in the Saibol area, following which CoTU indicated a willingness to participate in discussions regarding which central forces should remain near the buffer zone. CoTU and other Kuki-Zo groups have been opposing the crossing of the buffer zone by central security forces in the area, despite CM N Biren Singh’s assertion that Indian security forces can move anywhere within the country.
The buffer zone divides Kuki-Zo and Meitei inhabited villages. The CoTU leaders maintain that SP Kangpokpi should oversee security forces’ movements within the district to prevent communication gaps between the SP and civil society organisations. The buffer zone lies in the paddy field in the foothills of Saibol hills.
CoTU, through a media statement on Wednesday, highlighted the govt’s indifference to their repeated appeals for central forces’ withdrawal from Saibol. During the 12-hour shutdown, vehicular movements were affected, while commercial establishments and educational institutions were shut in the bandh-affected areas. Nevertheless, essential services, including healthcare and emergency responses, shall be exempt from the shutdown to ensure humanitarian considerations.
The commmittee said the presence of central forces in Saibol demonstrated serious disregard for their people’s voices and compromised peace. “The presence of central forces in Saibol, despite widespread concerns from the tribal populace, symbolises a grave disregard for the voices of our people. This deployment has disrupted the everyday lives of civilians and created an atmosphere of fear and mistrust, undermining the peace and harmony of our communities,” the statement said.
“The ongoing economic blockade and the forthcoming shutdown reflect the profound frustration and helplessness experienced by the tribal communities due to the govt’s inaction,” it further stated. Additionally, CoTU has urged public solidarity with their cause and requested govt engagement in resolving the impasse.
