CoTU Takes Protest to Streets Over Taphou Killings, Gives Manipur Govt Fresh Ultimatum for Justice

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) is taking its agitation to the streets from November 12, announcing district-wide sit-in protests and issuing a fresh ultimatum to the Manipur government over its unsatisfactory response to the organisation's Charter of Demands concerning the abduction and brutal killing of two Kuki-Zo civilians from Taphou Kuki village, despite being granted a seven-day window to deliver a concrete resolution.

Expressing deep disappointment over what it termed the government's 'unsatisfactory' action, CoTU said the authorities had failed to demonstrate substantive and decisive action towards delivering justice, ensuring security and upholding good governance, despite being given seven days to formulate a concrete solution to the demands raised in connection with the killings.

The Sadar Hills-based tribal organisation said the absence of satisfactory action had severely undermined public confidence in the government's willingness to address the legitimate concerns of the affected people.

As announced earlier, CoTU will begin the first phase of peaceful sit-in demonstrations at Saikul on November 12, followed by similar protests at Saparmaina and Kangpokpi, respectively, to mount pressure on the government for immediate and decisive action on its Charter of Demands.

The organisation, however, warned that the seven-day window granted to the government was not an indefinite reprieve but an opportunity to demonstrate concrete progress.

"Should the Government fail to take concrete and satisfactory action within this stipulated period, CoTU will be compelled to impose a more stringent form of democratic protest," the committee warned.

Reiterating its demand for urgent government intervention, CoTU said the people had waited long enough for justice and could not be expected to wait indefinitely.

The announcement signals a fresh phase of public agitation in Kangpokpi district as the organisation intensifies pressure on the state government over the killing of the two civilians and the demands raised by their community.