Imphal: Normal activities were disrupted across Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Monday as the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, observed a 24-hour total shutdown over the killing of a 71-year-old Kuki farmer, Hemkhojang Haokip.
The shutdown began at midnight on October 5 and is scheduled to continue until midnight on October 6. In a public notice, CoTU said the protest was intended to honour the deceased and express solidarity with his family. The organisation condemned the killing of civilians and called for an immediate end to such violence.
CoTU also demanded a comprehensive investigation into the incident and urged authorities to deploy adequate security personnel in vulnerable peripheral areas where farmers are engaged in agricultural activities.
Haokip, a resident of Khunkho village under Leimakhong, reportedly went missing on Saturday after leaving home to work at his paddy field. His body was recovered from a nearby forested area on Sunday.
Villagers said his hands and legs appeared to have been tied, raising suspicions that he may have been abducted before being killed. The discovery of the body prompted the deployment of security personnel in the area, while a large number of residents gathered at the site.
Local residents have alleged the involvement of NSCN-IM cadres and also accused members of the ZUF-K faction of complicity in the killing. These allegations have not been independently verified. Villagers claimed that Kuki-Zo farmers working in peripheral foothill areas have faced repeated threats and intimidation from armed groups.
The killing of the elderly farmer has intensified concerns over the security of civilians engaged in farming in vulnerable areas, despite the presence of security forces.
Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen also condemned the incident, expressing grief over the death of the elderly civilian and conveying condolences to his family.
Kipgen called on law enforcement agencies to expedite the investigation, establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and take strict legal action against those responsible. She also appealed to all communities to exercise restraint and maintain peace to prevent further violence.
Following the incident, security forces stepped up patrolling and surveillance in and around Leimakhong, Khunkho and other adjoining areas. Police said an investigation into the killing is underway.