Hundreds of Kuki-Zo protesters on June 11 placed the coffin of slain villager Haogin Lhouvum along National Highway-2 in Kangpokpi town, demanding justice, greater security deployment and action against those responsible for his killing in neighbouring Tamenglong district.
The protest was organised by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and other Kuki civil society organisations amid a district-wide shutdown across Kangpokpi. Protesters staged a sit-in programme beside the highway, where Lhouvum’s coffin remained for several hours.
Lhouvum was killed during an attack on Lasan village in Tamenglong district on June 9. His body was brought from the district hospital morgue to Kangpokpi as mourners and protesters gathered to condemn the incident.
The demonstration coincided with a total shutdown called by Kuki civil society organisations from midnight on June 10. Educational institutions, businesses and vehicular movement remained suspended across the district, while emergency services and security personnel were exempted.
Speaking during the protest, Kuki CSOs Kangpokpi spokesperson Janghaolun Haokip questioned the role of security forces stationed at Makui village, alleging that they failed to prevent the attack despite being located about five kilometres from Lasan village.
Haokip said the attack had raised concerns about the effectiveness of security arrangements in the area and called for greater protection of vulnerable Kuki-Zo settlements.
The organisations accused the government of failing to ensure the safety of Kuki-Zo civilians and alleged that attacks on their community had increased in recent months.
According to the groups, at least 13 Kuki-Zo civilians, including three pastors, have been killed in separate incidents allegedly involving Tangkhul militant groups. They also claimed that 11 Kuki-Zo villages had been set on fire, including Kultuh village in Kamjong district, where two villagers were reportedly killed in an attack early Thursday.
The protesters submitted four demands to the government. These include the immediate deployment of security forces at Lasan and Thenjang villages, security coverage for all vulnerable Kuki-Zo areas, a time-bound judicial inquiry into the killings of 13 Kuki-Zo civilians, and the arrest of the Makui village chief, village authority members and village guards in connection with the incidents.
Haokip said the community would continue democratic forms of protest until concrete steps were taken to address security concerns and bring those responsible for the killings to justice.
The protest ended peacefully, though community leaders warned that further agitation could follow if their demands remain unaddressed.
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