Normal life remained partially affected in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Friday as a local tribal organisation observed a 48-hour shutdown. The protest, organised by the Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), was called to condemn the killing of a woman during a gunfight between rival groups.
The violence erupted on Thursday morning in the vicinity of Taphou Kuki village in Kangpokpi and the neighbouring Kailengjang area of Senapati district. A 42-year-old Kuki woman was shot dead, and two men sustained injuries during the exchange of fire. Following the incident, COTU declared a 48-hour shutdown effective from the midnight of November 12.
Reports from The Hindu and Hindustan Times indicate that buses and autorickshaws stayed off the roads, causing significant inconvenience to commuters. Travel along National Highway-2, which connects Imphal and Dimapur via Kangpokpi, has been restricted. The organisation has confirmed that while public movement is halted, educational institutions, medical facilities, and emergency services are exempt from the shutdown.
A COTU functionary publicly criticised the security measures currently in place, alleging that the security forces operating under the Senapati district Superintendent of Police have failed to protect local residents. The committee has demanded the complete withdrawal of both central and state security forces currently stationed in the district under the command of the Senapati SP.
Key facts
- The 48-hour shutdown began from midnight on November 12, 2026.
- A 42-year-old Kuki woman was killed, and two men were injured in the Thursday morning firing.
- The incident occurred near Taphou Kuki village in Kangpokpi and Kailengjang in Senapati district.
- COTU has demanded the withdrawal of security forces operating under the Senapati Superintendent of Police.
- Essential services like medical care and educational institutions are exempt from the ongoing protest.
Background
Since the eruption of ethnic conflict in Manipur in May 2023, the region has seen at least 306 deaths, with 49 people still reported missing. Additionally, since February 2026, clashes between Kuki and Naga communities in the hill districts have resulted in at least 50 deaths.
Source: Hindustan Times, The Hindu
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