In a dramatic turn of events, the tribal-dominated Churachandpur district of Manipur experienced a complete shutdown on Monday, as various organizations expressed their discontent over the arrest of seven individuals, including two minors, by the NIA and CBI. The arrests were made in connection with the kidnapping and killing of two Manipuri youths in July of this year, a case that had stirred widespread public outrage.
The circulation of photos depicting the two missing youngsters on social media had triggered a series of protests in the Imphal Valley, prompting the transfer of the case to the CBI. In response to these developments, public vehicles stayed off the roads, and markets and businesses in Churachandpur district remained shuttered during the day-long shutdown, as reported by the police, PTI reported.
The ITLF, a conglomerate of recognized tribals in Manipur, called for an indefinite shutdown in the district to protest the arrests and demanded the release of the detainees within 48 hours. Simultaneously, the Churachandpur-based Joint Students Body (JSB) announced a 12-hour shutdown starting from 6 am on Monday.
The tragic incident involving the two youths, 20-year-old Phijam Hemanjit and 17-year-old Hijam Linthoingambi, who went missing on July 6 and whose lifeless bodies were discovered on September 25, had previously led to violent protests, primarily driven by students.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh revealed on Sunday that four individuals were arrested by the CBI in connection with the kidnapping and killing, assuring that the government would ensure the maximum punishment for them. Furthermore, he disclosed that the NIA had arrested a person from Churachandpur on Saturday, linking them to a case of transnational conspiracy involving Myanmar and Bangladesh-based leadership of terror outfits planning to wage war against India by exploiting the current ethnic strife in Manipur.
The recent arrests add to the complexity of the situation, which has already witnessed over 180 lives lost and hundreds injured since ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3. The tensions initially arose after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' organized in the hill districts in protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. With Meiteis constituting 53 percent of Manipur's population and primarily residing in the Imphal Valley, the tribals, comprising Nagas and Kukis, make up just over 40 percent and reside in the hill districts.
