Kuki-Zo to Mark October 3 as ‘Separation Day’; CoTU Calls 12-Hour Highway Shutdown

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, has announced that it will observe October 3, 2025, as “Separation Day” with a 12-hour total shutdown along National Highway-2, the lifeline route of Manipur, between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm.

In a public notice issued today, CoTU reiterated that the ongoing conflict which erupted on May 3, 2023, remains unresolved even after nearly three years, holding the former BJP-led state government under N. Biren Singh and MP Sanajaoba accountable for the state’s deepest ethnic divide.

Since the outbreak of violence, CoTU has been observing the 3rd of every month to honor the “brave and beloved brethren and fallen heroes” who, the organisation said, defended Kuki-Zo land “from encroachment by non-tribal communities.”

“This October 3rd will be observed with full fervor as ‘Separation Day’ to remind the Government of India that the Kuki-Zo community has already been physically and demographically separated from the majoritarian Meitei community,” the statement declared.

As part of the observance, all business establishments, academic institutions, and markets along the route will remain closed, with the exception of medical emergencies and funeral processions, which will not fall under the purview of the shutdown.

Expressing gratitude to the people, CoTU said it appreciated the cooperation and solidarity extended by the Kuki-Zo public during “these tumultuous years” and appealed for continued unity in the struggle for emancipation.