Imphal: A village chief was shot dead in Kangpokpi district on Thursday, prompting widespread condemnation from tribal organisations and a two-day shutdown across the Sadar Hills region. Hoikholhing, Chief of Langchingmanbi Village, succumbed to her injuries after being shot in what the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) described as a “brutal and cold-blooded killing.
The incident has escalated tensions in the already volatile region, with CoTU announcing a “Total Shutdown” from 1:00 pm on Friday to 6:00 pm on Saturday as a mark of protest and mourning. The tribal organisation held the state government directly responsible, alleging that authorities have failed to prevent repeated violations of the Buffer Zone by armed groups despite warnings about the deteriorating security situation.
CoTU stated that the killing was part of a “systematic campaign of state-sponsored ethnic cleansing against the Kuki-Zo minority.” The organisation criticised the security forces for failing in their constitutional duty to protect the vulnerable and accused the authorities of enabling a culture of impunity through their silence and inaction.
CoTU has demanded immediate action against those responsible for the killing, intervention by the Central Government to ensure protection of tribal lives and territory, and an independent investigation into Buffer Zone violations. The organisation called on all communities and institutions to observe the shutdown, describing it as both a protest against the violence and a period of mourning for the deceased chief.
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