The 13-hour total shutdown called by Kuki Zo Council was fully imposed in Churachandpur district, bringing normal life to a grinding halt where all shops, government offices have been closed with no vehicle plying except for those involved in the Territorial Army Recruitment at Tuibong which was conducted by the Army.
The total shutdown was called against the killing of 10 “Hmar Village Volunteers” by the CRPF at Jiribam and other incidents of violence in the state. No untoward incidents were reported till the filing of this report.
A release issued by the Kuki Students’ Organization (KSO) general headquarters and the Zomi Students’ Federation (ZSF) general headquarters, the two main student bodies of Churachandpur district, announced a ‘social boycott and non-cooperation’ against the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), alleging them of being “partisan and communal.”
The ZSF said that the social boycott will remain in effect against the CRPF in all the Zo inhabited areas. The student bodies demanded an independent investigation towards “the Jiribam Massacre”, including the role of the DIG(Ops/ CRPF) Huidrom Premjit, alleging him of donating money to the Arambai Tenggol.
The KSO said that in regard to the incident at Jiribam, no CRPF personnel will be allowed to leave their camp premises and any personnel who do so will be accountable for their action.
The mandate will be enforced until and unless the CRPF publicly acknowledges and apologises for their action at Jiribam, it stated.
