Northeast Desk, 28th September: A shutdown called by Kuki-Zo groups, including the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) and the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), has significantly disrupted normal life in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts on Saturday.
Officials reported that markets and commercial establishments remained closed, while vehicles stayed off the roads, as residents adhered to the shutdown which began on Friday and is set to continue through Sunday.
The protest stems from discontent over remarks made by Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, who on September 20 claimed that security forces had taken precautions against potential violence from “900 militants” believed to be targeting peripheral villages in the Imphal valley districts. However, the state government retracted Singh’s statement on Wednesday, asserting that the likelihood of such actions from armed groups is “minimal and unsubstantiated.”
As of now, no untoward incidents have been reported during the shutdown, but authorities remain vigilant as tensions persist in the region. The community’s response to the protest highlights ongoing concerns regarding security and stability in Manipur.