The Kuki-Zo Council has called for a “total shutdown” in protest, claiming the 11 militants killed in the encounter were “village volunteers.”
Manipur’s Jiribam district administration imposed a curfew on Monday as Kuki-Zo organizations called for a complete shutdown in hill areas to protest the encounter of 11 suspected militants, according to PTI.
The District Magistrate’s order banned the carrying of firearms, swords, sticks, stones, or any lethal weapons, as well as sharp-edged items or objects that could be used as offensive weapons.
Government agencies, security forces, and essential services involved in law and order maintenance are exempt from the curfew. Written permission will be required for emergencies, weddings, funerals, and similar events within the designated area.
The District Magistrate cited a police report warning of potential widespread disturbances and threats to public safety due to “unlawful activities by certain anti-social elements with malicious intent.”
The Kuki-Zo Council, claiming the deceased were “village volunteers,” announced a total shutdown on Tuesday from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM to honor the victims and express collective grief. The council also called for an immediate investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Eleven suspected militants were killed on Monday in a fierce gunfight with security forces after insurgents in camouflage uniforms, armed with sophisticated weapons, launched an indiscriminate attack on a police station and a nearby CRPF camp in Manipur’s Jiribam district.
Two CRPF personnel were injured in the intense exchange of fire at Borobekra, with one reported to be in critical condition.
Following the incident, fresh violence erupted in multiple locations across Imphal Valley, with armed groups from the two conflicting sides exchanging fire, according to police.
Ongoing Tensions in Manipur
The northeastern state has faced unrest since May 3 last year, when clashes broke out between the All Tribal Students Union (ATSU) and members of the Meitei community over a now-retracted High Court order suggesting the state government consider granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Hindu Meiteis.
The recent surge in violence in Manipur’s Jiribam district follows a brief period of calm in the ongoing ethnic conflict, which has claimed over 260 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people. Jiribam, known for its ethnic diversity, had remained largely peaceful until now.
Tensions escalated when, on November 7, a Hmar tribal woman was captured and burned alive. Two days later, armed militants killed a Meitei woman farmer in a paddy field in Bishnupur district in Imphal Valley. On November 11, three people, including a Naga, were injured in militant attacks in Imphal East and Bishnupur districts.
