Imphal, November 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Normal life remained severely affected in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday as a tribal organisation continued its shutdown over the alleged failure of the state government to take action following the killing of two Kuki youths.
A police officer said shops, markets, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed, while most vehicles stayed off the roads. Several goods-laden vehicles bound for the state capital through National Highway-2 (NH-2) were stranded in neighbouring Senapati district and could not enter Kangpokpi.
Additional security forces were deployed in the mountainous district to prevent any untoward incident and maintain law and order.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), a prominent Kuki-Zo organisation, had called the shutdown to protest what it described as the state government’s inaction over the killing of two Kuki civilians. Initially scheduled to end at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the shutdown was extended by another 48 hours.
In a statement, CoTU cited the government’s “continued failure to take decisive and concrete action towards ensuring justice for the brutal killing of the two Kuki-Zo civilians and the fulfilment of the demands submitted in this regard”.
The organisation warned that any further failure to ensure justice within the extended period would compel the Kuki-Zo community to intensify its democratic protests and consider stronger collective measures. It also said the government would be responsible if the situation deteriorated further.
The bodies of the two youths, identified as Tinginlun Chongloi, 21, and Paoginlal Hangshing, 20, were recovered on November 1. They had gone missing on October 28 and were allegedly abducted by unidentified miscreants.
The bodies were found following search operations by joint teams of the Manipur Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Assam Rifles. CoTU initially announced a 24-hour shutdown from November 1 and subsequently extended it by 48 hours, alleging that the government had failed to take concrete steps to ensure justice.
The organisation has maintained that the Kuki-Zo people would not accept “empty assurances and administrative excuses in place of justice” and demanded time-bound action against those responsible for the killings.
The incident has added to tensions in the conflict-affected state, where ethnic divisions and security concerns continue to pose challenges for the administration. More than 50 people have reportedly been killed and dozens of houses torched in clashes between the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities since February this year. The violence has largely affected Ukhrul, Kamjong, Kangpokpi, Tamenglong and Noney districts, besides parts of Senapati district.
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