Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), along with several Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) based in Kangpokpi, has announced the extension of the ongoing total shutdown across Kuki-Zo inhabited areas in Manipur from midnight of May 25. The decision was taken during a Joint Council Meeting held by the organisation and associated groups amid continuing tensions in the state. In a press statement issued on Monday, KIM said the shutdown would continue until those responsible for the killing of three Kuki-Zo church leaders are identified and brought to justice and until all detained Kuki-Zo individuals are released safely and without conditions. According to the organisation, the shutdown has already continued for 12 consecutive days, during which protests, demonstrations and appeals were carried out in different Kuki-Zo areas. KIM alleged that despite repeated appeals and public agitation, there has been no satisfactory response from the authorities regarding the incidents and the demands raised by the community.
The organisation claimed that several Kuki-Zo individuals continue to remain detained and described them as being held “hostage”. It said the extension of the shutdown was necessary due to the absence of visible progress in the investigation into the killings and the lack of action on the release of those detained. “Kuki-Zo civil society groups may intensify democratic forms of protest if the demands remain unresolved,” the statement said. At the same time, KIM clarified that essential and emergency services would not be affected by the shutdown. Healthcare services, medical emergencies, media operations and movements related to security forces have been exempted to avoid inconvenience to the public in critical situations.
The organisation also appealed to residents of Kuki-Zo areas to continue supporting the shutdown and cooperate with the movement. It stated that the protest was being carried out as part of a collective demand for justice, peace and protection of human dignity. The latest announcement comes as Manipur continues to witness ethnic tensions and security-related concerns in several districts. Authorities have been maintaining heightened security arrangements in sensitive areas as the situation remains under close watch.
