The total shutdown paralyzing Manipur’s Kangpokpi district entered its fifth consecutive day on Thursday after the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) extended its ongoing strike by another 48 hours to protest the state administration’s perceived failure to deliver justice for two slain Kuki-Zo youths. The prolonged closure, which will remain in effect until Friday evening, has severely disrupted long-distance transportation and freight movement between Imphal, Nagaland, and Assam, compelling multiple transport operators to reroute vehicles toward Dimapur and Guwahati. Thousands of passenger vehicles and commercial trucks have remained stranded along the critical National Highway 2 corridor, completely halting local commerce, government administration, and educational institutions across the region, while stranded truck drivers reported waiting in the Litan area of Ukhrul district for security escorts. CoTU leaders firmly stated that the tribal body will continue to refuse to claim the victims’ remains until the state government fulfills its entire charter of demands, describing their terms as non-negotiable and rejecting any partial administrative compliance or selective implementation. Furthermore, community representatives warned that the Kuki-Zo population would convene a mass public meeting to launch intensified democratic agitations if authorities delay decisive action against the perpetrators. The escalating tensions stem from the tragic abduction of two 20-year-old men from Taphou Kuki village on October 28, whose lifeless bodies were recovered by security forces during a joint search operation on November 1. Following the grim discovery, CoTU initiated a fresh total shutdown on Sunday, November 1, building upon an earlier 48-hour strike enforced from October 29 to 31, 2026. As the blockade continues to isolate parts of the region and strain inter-state supply chains, pressure mounts on the state administration to negotiate a resolution and restore normalcy along vital transport arteries.
Kuki-Zo Community Threatens Intensified Agitation as Kangpokpi Total Shutdown Continues
