Shutdown disrupts normal life in Manipur’s Churachandpur

Imphal, Oct 2: A complete shutdown in the tribal-dominated Churachandpur district of Manipur on
Monday brought normal life to a standstill.
Kuki organizations had called for the bandh to protest against the arrest of seven people, including two
minors, from the area by the NIA and CBI.
Suspects in the case of the kidnapping and killing of two Manipuri youths in July this year were among
the arrested people.
Circulation of photos of the two youngsters on social media in recent times had led to an upsurge of
demonstrations in Imphal Valley, leading to the case being handed over to CBI.
Public vehicles were off the road, while markets and business establishments remained shut during the
shutdown in Churacandpur district, police said.
The ITLF, a conglomerate of recognized tribal communities of Manipur, had called for an indefinite
shutdown in the district from 10 am on Monday to protest against the arrests and demanded that they
be released within 48 hours.
Churachandpur-based Joint Students Body (JSB) also called a 12-hour shutdown in the district from 6 am
on Monday.
The killing of the two youths – Phijam Hemanjit, a 20-year-old man, and Hijam Linthoingambi, a 17-year-
old girl had gone missing on July 6. Photos of their bodies surfaced on September 25 leading to violent
protests mainly by students.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh had on Sunday said that four people were arrested by CBI in connection
with the kidnapping and killing of two Manipuri youths, and the government would ensure the
maximum punishment for them.
Singh had also said that the NIA on Saturday arrested one person from Churachandpur in connection
with a case of a transnational conspiracy by Myanmar and Bangladesh-based leadership of terror outfits
to wage war against India by exploiting the current ethnic strife in Manipur.
The arrested person was the second accused apprehended in the case, registered suo motu on July 19.
On September 22, the NIA arrested another person from Manipur in connection with it.
More than 180 people lost their lives and several hundreds were injured since the ethnic clashes broke
out in Manipur on May 3, after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts to protest
against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley.
Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. (PTI)