In Kuki-Zo dominated districts 14 hours shutdown affects normal life

Imphal: Normal life was badly affected by the 14-hour complete shutdown in two Kuki-Zo dominated districts of Manipur on Wednesday.

People of Kuki-Zo living in two districts of Manipur – Kangpokpi and Chandel – announced a bandh at 4 am on Wednesday to show solidarity with those who lost their lives in the ongoing communal violence in the riot-torn state.
A total of 175 people lost their lives in the mayhem that broke out between the Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur on May 3.

In support of the bandh, all businesses, educational institutions and private vehicular traffic in these two districts remained closed and off the roads.
Attendance in government offices was also almost zero.

However, security and police vehicles were seen plying on the roads in these two districts during the bandh.
Emergency services including medical, water supply, media fire services, and religious events were exempted from the scope of the ban.

During the bandh, most of the main roads in these two districts were blocked by the bandh supporters using benches and other items.
However, there is no report of any untoward incident so far.

Notably, out of the 16 districts of Manipur, four are Kuki-majority districts. The districts are Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Chandel and Tengnoupal.

Kukis are demanding a separate administration in Manipur.