Decrying alleged ‘selective and partisan’ search ops... Kuki CSOs impose highway shutdown

Our Correspondent
KANGPOKPI, Jun 21: Kuki CSOs have imposed an emergency shutdown along National Highways protesting security operations in Kuki areas, particularly Leimakhong-Kangchup area which they alleged to be ‘selective and partisan’.
“As a mark of protest against the continuing violence and perceived failure to ensure justice and security, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) hereby imposes emergency bandh/shutdown along NH-2 and NH-37 with effect from 4 pm on June 21 until further notice”, the committee said in a press release.  
However, the committee clarified that essential services, ambulances, medical emergencies and humanitarian relief activities would remain exempted from the shutdown.
Business establishments, private institutions and markets were shut down immediately following the call, while volunteers stationed at strategic locations restricted vehicular movement along National Highway-2 enforcing the protest.  
Speaking to the media at Kangpokpi on the sidelines of the shutdown, Kuki CSOs Kangpokpi spokesperson Janghaolun Haokip said the emergency highway shutdown was a collective decision taken by all major Kuki civil society organisations in the district in response to what he termed "selective security operations" being conducted by Central security forces.
He alleged that security forces were increasingly focusing their operations on Kuki-Zo villages and volunteers despite repeated appeals from community leaders and organisations.
Warning against any move that could further escalate tensions, Janghaolun Haokip asserted that the community would not tolerate actions perceived as being directed against village volunteers protecting their settlements.
Meanwhile, CoTU has alleged that recent security actions in the region have created a widespread perception of bias among affected communities, particularly amid ongoing tensions between Kuki and ‘Kacha Naga’ groups.
Calling the security situation "rapidly deteriorating", CoTU urged the Government of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs to intervene immediately and ensure what it termed impartial and professional conduct of all security operations.
The organisation further demanded adequate protection for vulnerable villages, an independent probe into the killings of the Pastors and villagers, urgent measures to prevent further attacks and displacement, and accountability for any alleged lapses or bias in the discharge of security duties.
Interestingly it was just on June 16 that Kuki Inpi, Manipur had announced the rollback of the blockade it had imposed citing acute shortage of all essential goods in Kangpokpi.