The United Naga Council (UNC) enforced a 24-hour total shutdown across Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur on Thursday, 11 June, paralysing normal life in protest against the killing of six Naga civilians whose mutilated bodies were recovered from a forested area near Kharam Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district. The shutdown, running from 6 am on 11 June to 6 am on 12 June, marks a sharp escalation in tensions between Naga and Kuki-Zo communities in the violence-wracked northeastern state.

How the Shutdown Unfolded

According to police officials, shops, markets, government and private offices, educational institutions, and financial establishments remained shut throughout the day. Private vehicles and passenger transport largely stayed off the roads, with the shutdown visibly affecting routine activities across Naga-dominated areas. The UNC urged citizens to observe the shutdown peacefully and maintain solidarity with the victims' families until justice is delivered.

The Killings That Triggered the Crisis

The six victims were among 18 Naga civilians — including two pastors — abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village on 13 May by armed groups allegedly belonging to different tribal communities. Their bodies were recovered on Wednesday, 10 June, from a forested area near Kharam Vaiphei village, a predominantly Kuki-Zo tribal settlement in the Saitu-Gamphazol Sub-division of Kangpokpi district. The recovery came just hours after 14 Kuki hostages were released on Tuesday, 10 June, following nearly four weeks in captivity — handed over to a police station in Senapati district by the UNC and the Naga People's Organisation (NPO).

UNC's Four-Point Charter of Demands

The UNC announced that the mortal remains of the six victims would not be received until its demands are addressed by both the Manipur government and the Centre. Chief among its demands are the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with all Kuki militant groups, and the immediate arrest and prosecution of all Kuki National Front cadres allegedly involved in the abduction and killings. The tribal body has framed the crisis as a law-and-order failure requiring direct central intervention.

Political Condemnation and Government Response

The killings drew condemnation from across the political spectrum. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, and Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen — who belongs to the Thadou tribe, part of the broader Kuki-Zo community — all strongly condemned the incident. More than a dozen organisations also issued condemnations. Chief Minister Singh had earlier stated that cases relating to the abductions and the killing of three church leaders in Kangpokpi district on 13 May had been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a detailed probe.

Security Forces on High Alert

In a separate development, the Manipur Police on Thursday stated that intelligence inputs indicated armed cadres were planning attacks on isolated villages in the hill districts. Security forces launched a joint operation in the Horei Kaphung Hills (Lower Leishan Ridge) area of Ukhrul district. 'During the operation, approximately a dozen armed cadres were spotted on top of the hills. While some of them fled, eight cadres were detained, disarmed, and later let off with a stern warning not to venture into the hills or carry weapons, as such activities are prohibited,' the police statement said. A large quantity of weapons, ammunition, and other war-like stores were reportedly recovered from unauthorised bunkers on the hilltop. Security forces have affirmed their commitment to continuing operations to safeguard vulnerable communities across the region.

This is the latest flashpoint in a conflict that has kept Manipur under severe ethnic tension since May 2023. With the NIA now involved and the UNC refusing to accept the bodies until demands are met, the coming days will test the Centre's capacity to hold a fragile peace.