Imphal: The Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) has vehemently condemned the indefinite shutdown imposed by Kuki-Zo groups and issued a stern 24-hour ultimatum to the state government, demanding the immediate lifting of the shutdown or face serious consequences.
The ongoing shutdown, now in its fourth day, has severely disrupted daily life in Kuki-Zo-dominated areas, causing widespread hardship for the general public. Transportation has come to a halt, businesses are shut, and essential services have been paralyzed, leaving residents struggling with limited access to basic necessities.
In a forceful statement, the NPO urged the government to take swift action to restore normalcy, stressing that the Naga community would take matters into its own hands if the shutdown is not lifted. The organization further called on the government to ensure the restoration of essential services in the affected areas and warned of pursuing legal recourse and other measures if their demands are not met.
The shutdown was triggered by the brutal killing of a young man at Keithelmanbi Military Colony in Kangpokpi district on March 8. Since the incident, the victim’s body remains unclaimed at the Kangpokpi District Hospital Morgue, while Kuki-Zo women in the district have been holding continuous condolence vigils.
With strict regulations being enforced by Kuki-Zo women, only emergency vehicles are allowed passage through Kangpokpi, and commercial activity has come to a standstill. Trucks and goods carriers are stranded in the Senapati district, exacerbating the economic impact.
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