IT News
Imphal, Nov 13:
A 24-hour total shutdown called by thirteen organizations in Manipur has brought the state to a standstill, following the killing of a 34-year-old woman in Saiton and the abduction of six individuals, including three minors and three women, by armed Kuki militants. The shutdown, supported by groups such as the International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA), People’s Action for National Democratic Movement (PAMDM), and several others, has caused widespread disruption across the valley districts. All business establishments, schools, colleges, and government offices have remained closed, with banks and other government establishments also shut.
At around 3:30 PM, representatives of the thirteen organizations submitted a memorandum to the governor of Manipur, which was received by the secretary as the governor was out of station. Following the submission, Shanta Nahakpam, one of the leaders of the movement, thanked the public for their support and warned that if their demands were not met, they would launch mass resignations of all MLAs, regardless of their political affiliation.
The memorandum outlined urgent requests, demanding immediate actions from the government to address the current crisis. Key demands included the safe rescue of the six hostages abducted by Kuki militants in Jiribam District, the implementation of legal and security measures to secure national highways, and the establishment of a no-entry zone in vulnerable hill areas to protect farmers from further attacks.
It also called for better coordination among security forces, enforcement of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militants, and reforms within the Assam Rifles to address allegations of bias.
The organizations also expressed grave concerns over the growing aggression of armed Kuki militants, despite their presence under the SoO agreement since 2008. The recent escalation in attacks, particularly during the harvest season, has eroded public trust in the current security arrangements. One of the major concerns is the ongoing blockade of national highways, which has significantly disrupted the movement of essential goods and services, further exacerbating the suffering of the local population.
The situation has worsened following violent incidents in Jiribam District, where on November 11, 2024, militants attacked the Meitei village of Jakuradhor, killing two villagers and injuring CRPF personnel. The militants also set homes ablaze and abducted six villagers, including three women and three children, whose whereabouts remain unknown. There is an urgent demand for immediate action to locate and rescue the hostages and ensure that such incidents do not occur again.
The memorandum also highlighted growing distrust in the security forces, with many locals accusing the Assam Rifles of showing bias toward Kuki militants. Allegations of torture by Assam Rifles personnel against Meitei civilians have fueled this sentiment, leading to the rise of local militia groups. The people of Manipur are increasingly frustrated by the perceived lack of genuine commitment from national political parties to address the state’s security concerns. This has led to calls for a withdrawal of support from these parties, with many feeling that the state’s welfare has been sidelined in favor of national power struggles.
There were no report of any unwanted incident during the total shutdown which is scheduled to end at 6 pm today.
