The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) on Wednesday announced the suspension of the 24-hour total shutdown along Asian Highway-2 (AH-2) and National Highway-37 (NH-37), just a day after enforcing it. The decision came in view of assurances from the authorities and changing ground circumstances.
The shutdown, which began at midnight on January 27, had been called to protest the government’s failure to arrest those allegedly responsible for setting fire to K. Songlung Village (Part II). The arson was reportedly carried out by the ZUF-S Kamson group on Republic Day.
Even before CoTU officially suspended the bandh, several Naga civil society organisations had voiced strong opposition. The Naga People’s Organization (NPO) and the Joint Tribe Students’ Association (JTSA) both issued statements urging that the shutdown be withdrawn.
The NPO stated that the bandh had severely affected the movement of Naga people, particularly those travelling for medical emergencies and flight connections, causing considerable hardship to the general public.
Similarly, the JTSA expressed concern over disruptions along the NH-37 stretch, which affected traffic and vehicular movement. Reaffirming its long-standing opposition to blockades on NH-37 since May 3, 2023, the JTSA appealed to the Manipur government and security forces to prevent further disturbances on the highway.
The NPO even called for a counter-bandh to safeguard the safety, dignity, and freedom of movement of the public. JTSA also warned those enforcing the shutdown to immediately stop their actions or face consequences.
In a press statement released on Wednesday, CoTU thanked the public, church leaders, and civil society organisations for their support during the shutdown. After internal deliberations, the committee decided to review the situation and subsequently suspend the bandh with immediate effect.
CoTU also noted that it had discussed the joint declaration issued by the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) in Kangpokpi on January 27, which called for dialogue and peaceful coexistence. The committee unanimously agreed to respect the decision of the two apex tribal bodies and work toward maintaining cordial relations between the communities.