Imphal: The Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has suspended its 24-hour total shutdown along Asian Highway-02 and National Highway-37 from Tuesday midnight, after Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) imposed a counter-bandh on Wednesday. The NPO later lifted its agitation in the afternoon.CoTU had called the shutdown to protest the alleged inaction of the govt in apprehending members of the ZUF-S Kamson group, accused of torching houses at K Songlung (Part-II) village in Kangpokpi on Monday.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, CoTU thanked the public, church leaders, and civil society organisations for their support but said it had decided to reconsider and suspend the agitation. It added that the decision was taken in line with the resolution of the United Naga Council and the Kuki Inpi Manipur to promote cordial relations between the two tribal communities.The NPO strongly criticised the manner in which the shutdown was enforced, alleging violations of humanitarian and democratic norms. It said CoTU volunteers failed to provide humanitarian exemptions, causing severe hardship to the public.The NPO pointed out that nearly 99% of commuters on NH-02 are from Senapati district, and the shutdown amounted to targeted harassment of innocent civilians. It claimed several people missed flights, suffering financial, professional, and personal losses.Repeated appeals for humanitarian exemptions were ignored, the NPO said, compelling it to launch a counter-agitation to safeguard public rights, safety, and dignity. The organisation later announced the lifting of its agitation “on humanitarian grounds and in the larger interest of social harmony and public peace”.
