Imphal: The district of Kangpokpi in Manipur, a region already fractured by ethnic strife, experienced a tense but relatively calm morning today, as an indefinite shutdown, instigated by Kuki-Zo groups, took hold, disrupting daily life.
The shutdown was a direct response to what the groups perceived as a “crackdown by security forces.” The impact was felt across all areas within the district populated by the Kuki-Zo community.
In an effort to maintain order, authorities deployed additional security forces, particularly in Gamghiphai and along the crucial NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur Road). Intensive vehicular patrols were conducted throughout the district. This heightened security presence followed a day of violent confrontations on Saturday, where a protester lost their life and over 40 others, including women and police officers, sustained injuries.
The clashes erupted when security forces employed tear gas to disperse demonstrators who were vehemently opposed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s directive allowing unrestricted movement throughout the state. The confrontations persisted late into Saturday night, with protesters utilizing catapults against law enforcement. The resulting chaos led to damage to the windshields of at least five security force vehicles.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a prominent Kuki-Zo body, publicly endorsed the indefinite shutdown initiated by the Kuki Zo Council (KZC). This unified stance aimed to protest the security forces’ actions against demonstrators who were advocating for free movement on all roads within the state. The ITLF released a statement condemning the government’s decision to permit Meitei movement through Kuki-Zo areas, asserting that this action had triggered the unrest in Kangpokpi and that security forces had responded with excessive force.
The ITLF’s statement urged all community members to adhere to the shutdown as a show of solidarity, expressing respect for those who had participated in the previous day’s protests. Conversely, the Manipur Police issued a statement detailing the injuries sustained by 27 security personnel, who were reportedly attacked with stones and faced barricades erected by protesters, including burning tires and felled trees.
The police statement further alleged that gunfire had originated from within the ranks of the protesters, necessitating a response from security forces. The statement emphasized the restraint exercised by security personnel in the face of what they described as an “unruly and violent mob,” claiming that minimal force was used to control the situation. They confirmed that 16 protesters were injured, and one fatality occurred.
The incident was traced back to a Manipur State Transport bus traveling the Imphal-Kangpokpi-Senapati route. When the bus reached Gamghiphai in Kangpokpi district, it was reportedly pelted with stones by a mob, prompting the security forces to deploy tear gas and use minimal force. The protest was also directed against a Meitei civil society group peace march, which was stopped by security forces before reaching Kangpokpi due to lack of permission.
The directive from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, issued on March 1, mandated that security forces ensure free movement of people on all routes in Manipur from March 8, and called for strict action against those who created obstructions. This order carried significant weight, as unhindered travel had been severely compromised since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023, which resulted in over 250 deaths and the displacement of thousands.
The central government had previously imposed President’s rule in Manipur on February 13, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The Manipur Assembly, with a tenure extending to 2027, was placed under suspended animation. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla had also issued an appeal for the voluntary surrender of looted and illegally held weapons, initially setting a deadline of seven days, which was later extended to March 6.
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