Imphal (Manipur): The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District and Kuki Students Organization General Headquarters imposed a 48-hour total shutdown in all Kuki-Zo dominated areas in Manipur demanding the withdrawal of state forces from Moreh.

The shutdown is being imposed in two ways, one being the CoTU's is going to begin from 6:00 am of November 2 while the KSO General Headquarters total shutdown has started from Tuesday midnight.

 Kipgen, the CoTU's Media Cell Coordinator saying that the committee is seriously disturbed also allege that Meitei insurgents disguised as special commandos, burnt down several houses and vehicles, looted many houses including church offerings at Sinam Village along Imphal-Moreh road on Tuesday, the 30th October.

It was on Tuesday, after the SDPO was killed; three personnel of Manipur Police were injured after suspected Kuki militants ambushed the additional state forces who were rushed to Moreh to assist in carrying out an even bigger search operation to arrest the culprits along the Imphal-Moreh road.

The CoTU Media Cell Coordinator also said that the shutdown is also part of the protest against the anti-national activities of Meitei insurgents in the border town Moreh.

He further alleges that the armed Meitei insurgents in Myanmar are a part of the anti-democratic alliance and are seeking refuge in Moreh. He also said the committee affirmed that it shall launch various forms of intensified democratic agitation until our demands for complete withdrawal of Meitei insurgents and Meitei forces are met and any untoward incident arising out of this will be the sole responsibility of the head of the state.

The Kuki Students’ Organisation (GHQ) also call on the central leadership right from the Prime Minister’s Office to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to recall and withdraw all the state forces from Moreh thereby deploy competent and high-ranking Kuki-Zo police officers to be assisted by the central security forces in maintaining law and order in the border town.

Media personnel and medical emergency related cases will only be exempted from the purview of the total shutdown.