Imphal, February 6: Normal life in Churachandpur district of Manipur was severely disrupted on Friday. Several tribal organizations called for a shutdown across the district in protest against the participation of Kuki-Zo community legislators in the state government formation.
The shutdown led to heightened tensions in this hilly district, predominantly inhabited by the Kuki-Zo population. Protests were also held in Tengnoupal and other hilly areas on the same issue. A police officer in Imphal reported that demonstrators armed with sticks blocked vehicles in various areas of the Churachandpur district headquarters.
During the shutdown, government and private offices, shops, markets, banks, and educational institutions remained closed. Traffic on the roads was nearly nonexistent. The Kuki Students Organization (KSO), Kuki Women Organization for Human Rights, Joint Forum of Seven (JF7), and other Kuki-Zo tribal organizations had called for a complete 24-hour shutdown in the district headquarters.
In response to the situation, a significant number of additional security forces were deployed in the district and other hilly areas. The KSO and KWOHR organized a large rally on Friday afternoon to protest the involvement of Kuki-Zo legislators in the government formation.
Earlier, clashes occurred between protesters and security forces in the Tuibong market and Forest Gate areas on Thursday evening. To control the situation, security forces resorted to baton charges and fired tear gas. At least five people were injured in these clashes.
According to a police officer in Imphal, most of the protesters were young individuals. They set fire to piles of garbage, burned tires, and chanted slogans against BJP legislator and Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen from the Kuki-Zo community.
The situation escalated further when central and state security forces attempted to disperse the crowd. Initially, the number of protesters exceeded that of the security personnel, leading to heavy stone-pelting. Subsequently, security forces had to use baton charges to regain control.
To prevent further escalation, additional security forces were deployed in the affected areas. Sporadic clashes continued until around 3 AM on Friday. Officials reported that the situation remains tense, with senior security officers monitoring efforts to restore normalcy.
Tensions in Churachandpur district have persisted since Wednesday evening (February 4). On that day, Nemcha Kipgen, a resident of Kangpokpi district, took the oath of office as Deputy Chief Minister virtually from the Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi.
Kipgen is the only female member of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s cabinet, which she joined on Wednesday. Out of ten Kuki-Zo legislators, three—Nemcha Kipgen, L.M. Khoute, and Ngursanglur Sanate—have participated in the government formation process so far.
Of these ten Kuki-Zo legislators, seven are affiliated with the BJP, while the remaining three are reportedly linked to local Kuki-Zo organizations. Kipgen, Khoute, and Sanate participated virtually in the seventh session of the 12th Manipur Assembly on Thursday.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Chief Minister N. Biren Singh addressed the session. The Chief Minister emphasized that restoring peace and normalcy in the violence-affected state is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders, including elected representatives.
The Governor stated that maintaining law and order is the government’s top priority. He mentioned that efforts to restore normalcy across the state and ensure public safety are ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Kuki-Zo community’s apex body, the Kuki-Zo Council, announced on Thursday that they would socially boycott all Kuki-Zo legislators who participated in or were involved in the formation of the Manipur government.