A major Kuki organisation has called for a 12-hour 'total shutdown' in the Kuki-majority areas of the ethnic violence-affected Manipur on Wednesday. The calls has been made to protest against the arrest of five people belonging to the community. In a statement on Tuesday, the Kuki Inpi said that it would enforce the shutdown between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

“The Kuki Inpi in its emergency meeting today, resolved to call a 12 Hours (6 am to 6 pm) ‘Total Shutdown' in all Kuki-Zo dominated regions on 10.7.2024 to protest against the gross injustice meted out to our people,” the statement read.

The tribal body has urged all the Kuki-Zo regional organisations to abide by the resolve to express solidarity for the common cause of the people. Initially, the deployment of the central security forces in vulnerable areas provided a sense of safety and security for the Kuki-Zo people, but the arrest of two persons in Jiribam and three others in Kangpokpi districts since Monday “poses a significant security threat” for them, the statement said.

According to news agency PTI, the Kuki body has alleged that the Imphal valley-based militant groups are openly brandishing sophisticated arms while the Kuki-Zo people are being terrorized.

In the ethnic violence that affected Manipur, both the Imphal valley-based Meitei community and hill-based Kukis have been accusing the central force of supporting the other group.

Over 200 people were killed and thousands rendered homeless in the violence since May last year. 

(With input from agencies)