CHURACHANDPUR — An
economic blockade by a tribal body was underway in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas in
Manipur on Friday to protest against alleged action by security forces on women
in a village in Kangpokpi district, officials said on Friday.
Another organisation, Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), also
observed a 24-hour shutdown in the district to protest against the alleged
baton charge on women on December 31 in Saibol village.
The tribal body Kuki-Zo Council said the economic blockade
that started from midnight of January 2 would continue till 2 am on Saturday to
protest against "disregard for tribal rights and dignity".
Vehicular movement and transportation of essential
commodities passing through the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas would be restricted
during the blockade, the organisation said.
Kuki Zo Council would intensify its protest if the women
injured in the alleged baton charge by security forces are not compensated, the
tribal body's chairman Henlienthang Thanglet said in Churachandpur.
A clash broke out between a mob led by Kuki-Zo women and
security forces in Kangpokpi district on Tuesday, triggering fresh tensions in
the ethnic strife-hit state.
The incident occurred after the mob tried to “disrupt” the
deployment of a combined team of Army, BSF and CRPF, the police had said in a
post on X.
"The economic blockade will be reimposed if the
government fails to maintain the buffer zone's sanctity which is in the hands
of the administration," he said.
The buffer zone is a neutral area serving to separate groups
belonging to warring Kuki and Meitei community members.
The council also extended its support to the total shutdown
called by CoTU in Kangpokpi district.
The tribal organisation had observed a 12-hour shutdown from
2 pm on Thursday, but the protest failed to "elicit a positive response
from the government", a CoTU official said.
"The committee is now observing a 24-hour
shutdown," he said.
The tribal organisation also demanded the immediate
withdrawal of central forces at Saibol, terming their presence as
"unnecessary and provocative".
A sit-in was also held near the Moreh Youth Club office in
Tengnoupal against alleged atrocities on Kuki Zo women by security forces on
December 31.
More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered
homeless in ethnic violence in Manipur since May last year.
