CHURACHANDPUR, March 18: After violence erupted in Churachandpur district over the alleged assault of Hmar tribal leader Richard Hmar, the Hmar Inpui and Zomi Council—the apex bodies of their respective tribes—have lifted the shutdown imposed in the region and called for a return to normalcy.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, the councils announced that they had decided to end the shutdown and cease all disruptive activities immediately. They also urged the public to remain calm, emphasizing that the matter of physical violence would be resolved according to local customary laws and practices.

The decision came after a joint meeting organized by the Churachandpur district administration in response to the unrest that gripped the town on Monday. The statement noted that all parties agreed to work together for the peace and security of the people in the coming days. However, despite the shutdown being called off, prohibitory orders remain in place across the district.

The unrest began on Sunday evening when Richard Hmar, the General Secretary of the Hmar Inpui, was allegedly assaulted by unidentified individuals inside the VK Montessori complex around 7:30 PM. The attack sparked protests throughout Monday, with locals demanding the arrest of those responsible for the assault. Protesters attempted to enforce the shutdown, urging shopkeepers to close their businesses. Groups of men carrying sticks were seen moving through the town to impose the closure, and there were reports of sporadic incidents of stone pelting in some areas.