Manipur violence : Kangpokpi district tensions rise amid Kuki-Zo protests against government's 'selective law enforcement'

Strife-torn Manipur's Kangpokpi district is back to a burning situation as the Kuki-Zo people intensified their mass movement protesting the alleged 'Selective injustice and selective enforcement of the law' by N. Biren Singh's led-Manipur Government while intensifying the demand for the release of the two Kuki-Zo individuals arrested by Manipur police.

Thousands of Kuki-Zo people congregated again this afternoon at Brig. M. Thomas ground and finally resolved to intensify the mass movement after a serious deliberation before holding another massive rally till the office of SP Kangpokpi via National Highway-2.

 They chanted similar slogans such as, "Released the illegally detained two Kuki-Zo", "We want justice", "No more state forces power", "No selective injustice, No selective enforcement of the law", etc.

The protestors then held a sit-in protest in front of the SP Kangpokpi along the National Highway disrupting the movement of vehicles while burning of tyres and wood, and putting up boulders along the highway were seen at various locations.

Many vehicles were also seen stranded along the highway while all shops and business establishments were closed and schools were declared holidays from noon.

The protestors were also heard shouting, "We will not leave until our two innocent Kuki-Zo are brought down to Kangpokpi from Senapati and released without any condition".

Speaking to the media, CoTU's General Secretary, Lamminlun Singsit said that the public leaders could no longer control the public sentiment and they have started a mass/public movement protesting against the selective injustice and selective enforcement of the law.

He said that the Kuki-Zo people across Kangpokpi have decided that they will no longer tolerate the selective injustice and enforcement of the law only in the Kuki-Zo-dominated areas.

He also said that radicalized groups such as Arambai Tenggol volunteers roaming hassle-free with sophisticated weapons in the capital city, the unruly and uncontrolled mobs open murdering of innocent civilians, and the law enforcement agencies remaining mute spectators clearly demonstrate the lawlessness among the majority community.

He said that laws have been strictly enforced in the Kuki-Zo-dominated areas up to the extent of arresting innocent Kuki-Zo civilians with false accusations and allegations.

He also said that the Kuki-Zo people have decided to relaunch the mass movement and resolved that there will be no more state forces power in all the Kuki-Zo-dominated areas, he further added.

"Now, the people are the law and shall be the enforcing agencies while the state forces shall have no more authority to enforce or apply the law at their own whims and fancy", he asserted.

The CoTU's Secretary also said that since the public leaders have no more control over the sentiment of the people, any untoward incident arising shall be the sole responsibility of the biased N. Biren Singh's communal Government.

He further conveyed that the public has decided not to leave the place or back off from their agitation until the two innocent Kuki-Zo arrested and detained at Senapati are brought down to Kangpokpi and released without any condition.

He also said that the Kuki-Zo people of Kangpokpi resolved to continue their demonstration in front of the SP Office until their demands were met, even if they were to spend their nights and days at the demonstration site.

In connection with the disruption of vehicular movement, and the closure of shops and schools, the CoTU's Secretary said that it is in the hands of the public and we have no say at all while adding that they [the public] are even prepared to close down all Government offices.

The protestors were seen demonstrating in front of the SP Kangpokpi office till the filing of this report, however, the highway has already been open temporarily so as not to trouble innocent commuters.

It is also reported that the decision intensifies the demonstration including imposition of total shut down, and picketing of offices will be taken as per the response and action of the authority concerned.