Normal life across Manipur’s Kangpokpi district was partially paralyzed on Friday as commercial markets, shops, and business establishments remained shuttered in response to a 48-hour total shutdown enforced by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU). The shutdown, which commenced at midnight on November 12, was called to protest the tragic killing of a 42-year-old Kuki woman, Kimneineng Chongloi, who lost her life during an exchange of gunfire the previous day. According to reports, the incident occurred around 11:00 am on Thursday near Taphou Kuki village in Kangpokpi while Chongloi was peacefully harvesting paddy in the fields; sudden firing broke out between rival armed groups, fatally striking her and leaving two men injured in the crossfire. As residents in Kangpokpi stayed indoors and vehicular movement thinned under the impact of the protest bandh, fresh violence erupted elsewhere in the state on Friday, underscoring the fragile security situation across the region. In a separate, deadly attack in Ukhrul district, four people—including two women—were killed when suspected militants opened indiscriminate fire on two passing vehicles in the New Heaven area along the crucial Imphal-Ukhrul road. The ambush triggered heightened security alerts across neighboring districts, prompting law enforcement and paramilitary forces to intensify patrolling and deploy additional personnel to prevent further escalation. Together, the fatal shooting of an innocent farmer in Kangpokpi, the subsequent public shutdown led by civil society groups demanding justice and protection, and the brazen highway ambush in Ukhrul highlight the persistent volatility and civilian toll of ongoing armed clashes in Manipur, leaving local communities grappling with grief, disrupted livelihoods, and urgent calls for restored peace and accountability.
Manipur Unrest Escalates as COTU Enforces 48-Hour Kangpokpi Bandh and Militants Attack Vehicles in Ukhrul
