Kuki group extends Kangpokpi shutdown by 48 hours
The Committee on Tribal Unity is protesting the alleged government inaction regarding the abduction and murder of two Kuki-Zo civilians.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) on Monday extended its total shutdown in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district for an additional 48 hours. According to The Indian Express, the group is protesting the government's failure to provide justice following the abduction and murder of two Kuki-Zo civilians.
The bodies of the two individuals, who had disappeared from Taphou Kuki village last week, were discovered in a hilly area of the neighbouring Senapati district on Sunday morning. The CoTU has accused authorities of failing to act decisively despite the nature of the crime.
The organisation stated that the Kuki-Zo community will no longer accept administrative delays or empty assurances. They have demanded immediate and time-bound justice against those responsible for the killings.
Essential services including healthcare, schools, media, and transit for airport-bound travel have been exempted from the shutdown. The CoTU previously called for a 48-hour shutdown on October 29, which was later extended for 24 hours last Saturday.
The CoTU warned that if the government does not ensure decisive action within the new 48-hour window, the community will take its own course of action. The group said it would hold the government responsible for the consequences of its failure to respond to the demand for justice.