Manipur: CoTU calls for protection of intelligence integrity as 2 day shutdown ends peacefully in Kangpokpi

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has concluded its two-day total shutdown in the Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District, which began on September 27, amidst escalating tensions surrounding controversial intelligence reports. This shutdown coincided with a one-day shutdown by the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) that started at midnight the same day and is set to end at midnight tonight.

The shutdown was a direct response to unfounded claims alleging the influx of 900 Kuki militants from Myanmar into Manipur. These reports, initially disseminated by the Chief Minister's Office, were later retracted, as government officials clarified that there was no substantiation for the claims.

Throughout the shutdown, all business establishments, private institutions, and schools in the district were closed, with vehicular movement largely restricted, barring exempt vehicles. Kangpokpi police, alongside newly deployed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, monitored the situation along National Highway 2 to ensure public order.

The participation of Kuki-Zo women was notable, as they gathered at key locations like the Kangpokpi District Headquarters and Gamgiphai to express their solidarity with the shutdown efforts.

Ng. Lun Kipgen, a spokesperson for CoTU, expressed his gratitude to the Kuki-Zo community for their unwavering support. He criticized the politically charged nature of the intelligence reports, calling for urgent action from the central government to safeguard the integrity of the intelligence framework from political manipulation.

Kipgen said that the community is committed to their rights and constitutional norms, confidently anticipating the establishment of a separate administration in the future as they navigate these challenging times.