CoTU’s total shutdown along NH-37, warns of indefinite shutdown in entire district from Oct 5

Apart from imposing a 15-hour total shutdown from 6 AM to 9 PM tomorrow to commemorate fifth-month of Manipur violence, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) Sadar Hills Kangpokpi district imposed a total shutdown along the National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam) road with effect from 4pm today (October 2) in connection with the alleged abduction of Kuki-Zo individuals by armed miscreants from New Keithelmanbi area on September 30.

According to CoTU Media Cell Coordinator, Ng. Lun Kipgen, on September 30 one Satthang Kipgen (52), son of Kamlun Kipgen of Bijang village in New Keithelmanbi area in Kangpokpi district was abducted by armed miscreants. He said that the total shutdown has already been imposed along National Highway-37 in connection with the abduction of Satthang Kipgen and it will continue till the concerned authority expedites the release of the abducted man.

CoTU, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi district, also served a 48-hour ultimatum to the Union Home Ministry for the release of Kuki-Zo individuals including two minors arrested by the CBI and NIA on ‘flimsy ground’ while cautioning that in case the Union Home Ministry failed to intervene and the arrested individuals are not released during the stipulated time, an indefinite total shutdown will be imposed in the entire Kangpokpi district from October 5.

Ng. Lun Kipgen vehemently condemned the arbitrary approach and an attempt to bring one-sided justice and said that the arrest of Seimunlun Gangte by the NIA on the pretext of Transnational Conspiracy is “unacceptable as it is an ulterior motive to veer the arrest of Moirangthem Anand, a PLA cadre who had been arrested several times on charge of Transnational Conspiracy”.

“As a citizen of India, we cannot accept biased and selective targets made against our community and therefore, we are compelled to serve a 48-hour ultimatum to the Union Home Ministry to instruct the central agencies such as the CBI and the NIA to release the Kuki-Zo individuals arrested on flimsy ground”, Kipgen said.

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