Imphal: Normal life was disrupted in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Friday after tribal organisations enforced a total shutdown to protest the participation of a Kuki-Zo MLA in the process of government formation in the state, officials said.
Bandh supporters were seen stopping vehicles in parts of the district headquarters town on Friday morning, with markets remaining closed and vehicular movement off the roads. Educational institutions and government offices also reported poor attendance.
The Churachandpur unit of the Kuki Students Organisation imposed a 24-hour total shutdown from midnight, while another group, the Joint Forum of Seven, enforced a shutdown in Kuki-Zo areas from 6 am to 6 pm.
The shutdown was more pronounced in the Tuibong area of the district headquarters town, officials said.
The situation remained tense, and additional security forces were deployed at key locations in the district headquarters town as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) announced that it would organise a mass public rally on Friday afternoon to oppose the participation of Kuki-Zo MLAs in the formation of the government.
KWOHR said the protest aims to express strong opposition to any move involving Kuki-Zo MLAs in government formation under the prevailing situation, adding that the rally is intended to convey the collective stand of Kuki women against what they described as unacceptable political developments.
On Thursday evening, clashes broke out between a mob and security forces near the Tuibong forest gate, prompting baton charges and the use of tear gas shells to disperse stone-pelting protesters. The clashes continued until around 3 am on Friday, leaving two demonstrators injured, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribes Advocacy Committee warned that any attempt to intimidate, threaten or harm MLA N Sanate, as well as any vandalism, theft or damage to his properties, would be viewed as disrespecting the collective stand of tribal people of Pherzawl and Jiribam districts.
The committee said it supports the interests of Hmar, Kuki and Zomi tribes of Manipur and cautioned that recent political developments should not create animosity among the three communities.
ALSO READ: Kuki groups warn MLAs against joining Manipur government, call shutdown in hill districts
The statement came after N Sanate, along with MLA L M Khaute, visited Imphal on Wednesday as part of the NDA team that staked a claim for government formation. The two Kuki-Zo-Hmar legislators, along with Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, also virtually attended the seventh session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
