Kuki-Zo Man Shot in Buffer Zone Sparks Outrage; CoTU Calls 24-Hour Shutdown Along NH-2

Tensions erupted in Manipur’s Kangpokpi District after months of relative calm were disrupted by the alleged shooting of a man at Shantipur, triggering fresh fears of escalation in the conflict-prone region.

The incident reportedly occurred late on Wednesday night at around 10:00 pm, when one of three Kuki-Zo men was shot at Shantipur, a designated peace zone situated between the fringe area of Gamgiphai in Kangpokpi district and Sekmai in Imphal West.

The victim, who sustained a bullet injury to his left arm, was rushed to a Hospital in Kangpokpi where doctors successfully operated on him and removed the lodged bullet. Hospital sources said the patient is currently under observation and out of immediate danger.

The incident triggered an unprecedented public backlash as the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) Sadar Hills announced a 24-Hour Total Shutdown in the entire Kangpokpi District from midnight of April 9 till midnight of April 10.

The incident has sparked panic among residents, with security concerns resurfacing in areas that had witnessed a gradual return to normalcy in recent months.

Vehemently condemning the attack and demanding immediate action against those responsible, enraged ocals expressed apprehension over a possible resurgence of violence, particularly in fringe and buffer zones that have remained sensitive since the outbreak of ethnic clashes.

The locals also accused authorities of failing to ensure security in vulnerable buffer zones, warning that repeated incidents of firing were eroding public trust.

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, in a strongly worded condemnation, alleged that three Kuki-Zo civilians were shot at point-blank range by armed Meitei militants at Shantipur. The committee termed the incident a “direct affront to the so-called peace process” initiated by the current dispensation after months of President’s Rule in the strife-torn state.

CoTU also described the development as a “grim reminder of the hollow and half-baked peace initiatives” pursued by the Centre, particularly the move towards forming a popular government without first addressing the core political issues underlying the conflict. It pointed to both the Shantipur and Tronglaobi incidents as clear indicators of the fragile and unresolved ground reality.

Reaffirming its position, the committee reiterated its earlier 8-point public resolution adopted during its 22nd Remembrance Day on March 3, 2025, asserting that buffer zones must remain “strictly sacrosanct and non-negotiable under any circumstances.”

Amid mounting public fury, CoTU announced a 24-hour total shutdown along National Highway-2, the lifeline connecting the hill districts, beginning midnight of April 9 till midnight of April 10. The shutdown, it said, would continue as a mark of protest until the perpetrators are identified and brought to justice.

“The silence of the authorities and repeated targeting of civilians cannot be tolerated any longer,” the statement read, warning of intensified agitation if justice is delayed.

However, the committee clarified that essential services, including medical emergencies, water supply, electricity, funeral processions, and air passengers, would be exempted from the shutdown.

The incident comes against the backdrop of recurring sporadic violence across Manipur in recent weeks, underscoring the precarious security situation despite intermittent periods of calm.