Tension persists in Manipur hills amid indefinite shutdown call

Guwahati: Normal life in Manipur's hill region — particularly Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, and Pherzawl districts — was disrupted on Sunday following an indefinite shutdown called by the Kuki-Zo Council on Saturday night. The shutdown, supported by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), aimed to protest the security forces' actions and to press their demand for separate administration.

Tensions escalated after Saturday's clashes in Kangpokpi district, where a protester died and over 20 others, mostly women, sustained injured during confrontations between Kuki-Zo protesters and security personnel. The clashes occurred when protesters tried to block vehicular movement between the Valley and Hill regions, defying Union home minister Amit Shah's directive to restore free movement.

On Sunday, while no fresh violence was reported, vehicular movement between the hills and valley remained suspended. Agitators burned tyres, blocked roads with boulders, and created hurdles, which were later cleared by security forces.

"Yesterday, the Centre's decision to allow the free movement of Meiteis through the Kuki-Zo area led to agitation and protest in Kangpokpi. The security forces used excessive force on the protesters, which led to the killing of one Kuki-Zo and injuries to many protesters. The ITLF extends its deepest respects to Lalgouthang Singsit, who sacrificed his life, as well as to everyone who suffered injuries. We respect everyone who came out to protest for the cause of our people yesterday," ITLF said in a statement.

"The government may take our lives, but they can never take away our freedom and rights," the statement read, urging solidarity among the Kuki-Zo people.

Commercial establishments in the hill districts remained closed, with shutdown supporters questioning vehicles on arterial routes. Emergency vehicles were allowed to pass.

Additional security forces were deployed at Gamgiphai, the entry point into Kangpokpi, and other vulnerable locations in Kangpokpi district where clashes broke out on Saturday. Deployment of forces was also seen at vulnerable locations along NH-2, to facilitate unrestricted vehicle movement.

Manipur Police, through their ‘X' handle, reported that 27 security personnel were injured in clashes, including two critically. "The security forces showed tremendous restraint while trying to control the unruly and violent mob and used minimum force to control and counter the anti-social elements, including the firing by armed miscreants from among the protestors. During the skirmish, 16 protestors were reportedly injured and one protestor succumbed to injury. Two vehicles of the security forces were also burnt by the protesters," Manipur Police wrote in ‘X'.

"Further, it is to clarify that claims made by press releases of Kuki-Zo Council and Kuki Students' Organization dated March 8, 2025, that security forces were escorting local protestors are totally baseless and false," it added.

The state govt, as part of its effort to restore normalcy, had arranged Manipur State Transport bus and other vehicles (four LPG gas trucks, three oil tankers) along Imphal-Bishnupur-Churachandpur and Churachandpur-Bishnupur-Imphal routes without any disturbance from the public. However, one bus was attacked with stones by a mob in Kangpokpi district on Saturday.