A total shutdown is underway across Kangpokpi district, accompanied by sit-in protests at key locations, including Kangpokpi, Keithelmanbi, Saparmeina, Gamgiphai, and Motbung. The demonstrations are part of ongoing demands for the removal of security forces from the Saibol area.
Despite a meeting between the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and the Superintendent of Police (SP) office, no agreement has been reached to withdraw security forces from Saibol.
The district remains heavily secured, with security personnel stationed in villages along the National Highway. Vehicular movement has been brought to a halt, and shops, offices, and schools remain shut, intensifying the impact of the protest.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) in Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi district, has announced an extension of the total shutdown for an additional 24 hours. The protest, aimed at opposing the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the Saibol Bungpi region under Lhungtin Sub-Division, will now continue from 2 am on January 4, 2025, to 2 am on January 5, 2025.
The shutdown, which initially began to demand the immediate withdrawal of CAPF from Sadar Hills, reflects growing discontent among the local community regarding the presence of the armed forces in the area.