Imphal : Fresh tensions gripped Manipur’s Kangpokpi district after a Kuki-Zo man sustained a gunshot injury in a designated buffer zone late Wednesday night, triggering protests and a 24-hour shutdown call by a tribal organisation.

According to initial reports, the incident occurred around 10 pm on April 8 at Shantipur, a notified buffer zone situated between Gamgiphai in Kangpokpi district and Sekmai in Imphal West. The victim, one of three Kuki-Zo men present at the site, suffered a bullet injury to his left arm.

He was rushed to a hospital in Kangpokpi, where doctors successfully conducted surgery to remove the lodged bullet. Hospital sources confirmed that his condition is stable and he remains under observation, with no immediate threat to life.

The incident has led to renewed unrest in the district, with the Committee on Tribal Unity announcing a 24-hour shutdown across Kangpokpi from midnight of April 9 to midnight of April 10. The shutdown will affect movement along National Highway-2, a crucial arterial route linking Manipur’s hill districts.

In a statement, the organisation strongly condemned the shooting, alleging that three Kuki-Zo civilians were fired upon at close range by armed Meitei militants at Shantipur. It termed the incident a serious setback to ongoing peace efforts and raised concerns over the effectiveness of security arrangements in designated buffer zones.

Residents in the area voiced growing apprehension over a potential escalation of violence, noting that repeated incidents in fringe and buffer zones were undermining the fragile sense of normalcy that had begun to return in recent months.

Locals also flagged alleged lapses in security deployment, warning that such incidents risk eroding public confidence in enforcement mechanisms meant to maintain peace between communities.

Reiterating its earlier position, the organisation said buffer zones must remain strictly non-violable and demanded immediate identification and prosecution of those responsible for the attack. It added that the shutdown would serve as a form of protest until concrete action is taken.

However, the group clarified that essential services-including medical emergencies, water and electricity supply, funeral processions, and the movement of air passengers-would remain exempt from the shutdown.

The latest flare-up comes amid continuing volatility in Manipur, where sporadic incidents in sensitive zones continue to challenge efforts to restore lasting peace.