Shutdown Closes Kangpokpi After Two Kuki Youths Go Missing

Overview

• Two Kuki youths from Taphou village, identified as Thangginlun Chongloi (21) and Paoginlal/Paominlal Hangshing (about 20), went missing while travelling between Hengbung and Taphou on October 28, local village authorities and community groups say.
• The Committee on Tribal Unity imposed a 48-hour shutdown in Kangpokpi from 5 p.m. on October 29 to 5 p.m. on October 31 to demand the safe return of the youths; medical services, media and security forces are exempted.
• Law enforcement and central security units report search operations are under way and the claims of abduction are under investigation, but the alleged abduction has not been independently verified.
• Civil-society groups have escalated political demands, with COCOMI mobilising an October 31 rally that calls for abrogation of the Suspension of Operations with Kuki militant groups and for resettlement of internally displaced people.
• The incident has heightened tensions in a region already affected by renewed Naga–Kuki violence this year, which has caused dozens of deaths and large population displacement and is driving community distrust of state and security responses.