Over 100 goods-laden vehicles stranded along National Highway 2 (NH-2) as CoTU shutdown disrupts normal life in Kangpokpi district.
IMPHAL — More than 100 goods-laden vehicles heading towards Imphal were stranded at various locations along National Highway 2 (NH-2) after they were unable to enter Kangpokpi district due to a total shutdown imposed by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU).
The shutdown, which began at 5 pm on November 2, was called by the Kangpokpi district-based organisation demanding justice following the recovery of the bodies of two persons who had gone missing on October 28.
The bodies were recovered on November 1 by a joint team of security forces during continuous multiple search operations along the Senapati-Phaibung (SP) road.
The two persons had gone missing from a location near 9MR, between Hengbung and Taphou Kuki village, on October 28.
They were identified as Paoginlal Hangshing (21) and Tinginlun Chongloi (20), both residents of Taphou Kuki village.
Meanwhile, normal life remained affected in Kangpokpi district for the second consecutive day on November 3, with markets and business establishments remaining closed.
The shutdown was also aimed at protesting what CoTU described as the state government's inaction over the killing of the two youths.
Manipur has witnessed renewed violence in Kangpokpi district in recent weeks. Last month, three people were killed and three others injured after suspected armed militants attacked Meitei firewood collectors at a hill range near Khongbal Tangkhul, a peripheral area along the Imphal East-Kangpokpi district boundary.
Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023. The violence has claimed at least 306 lives, left 49 people missing and displaced more than 50,000 people.