Churachandpur, February 6: Normal life in Manipur’s Churachandpur district was disrupted on Friday following a 24-hour “total shutdown” imposed by the Kuki Students’ Organisation Churachandpur (KSO-CCP) to protest the participation of a community MLA in the formation of the state’s new government, officials said.
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| Empty streets and shuttered businesses in Churachandpur reflect the impact of a shutdown, while protesters gather later in the day for a mass rally opposing recent political developments. |
Bandh supporters came out early in the morning, stopping vehicles and damaging windshields at several locations in the district headquarters town. Markets remained closed, vehicular movement was largely absent, and attendance at educational institutions and government offices was reported to be poor.
The impact of the shutdown was particularly pronounced in the Tuibong area, where the situation remained tense. Authorities deployed additional security personnel at key points across the district headquarters as a precautionary measure.
Later in the day, the KSO-CCP announced that the shutdown had been temporarily lifted with immediate effect in support of a mass public rally organised by the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR). In a public statement, the student body appealed to residents to participate in the rally and expressed gratitude to volunteers and the public for supporting the shutdown call.
KWOHR said the rally was aimed at expressing strong opposition to any move involving the participation of Kuki-Zo MLAs in the formation of the Manipur Popular Government under the prevailing circumstances. The organisation stated that the protest was intended to convey the collective stand of Kuki women against political developments they consider unacceptable.
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Tensions had already escalated on Thursday evening when clashes broke out near the Tuibong Forest Gate between a mob and security forces, prompting a baton charge and the use of tear gas shells to disperse stone-pelting protesters.
Meanwhile, in Moreh, large numbers of residents took to the streets on Friday, staging a rally to voice anger and disappointment after Kuki-Zo MLAs joined the newly formed Popular Government. Protesters described the development as a painful betrayal, alleging that it ignored the suffering and sentiments of the community during a critical period.
Security agencies said they were closely monitoring the situation in both Churachandpur and Moreh to prevent further escalation.
