A day after the Kuki-Zo Council expressed regret for the killing of six Naga hostages, the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur, rejected the apology as insincere. They demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the crime. ANSAM stated that the apology did not show genuine guilt or accountability for the abduction and killings that occurred in Kangpokpi district on May 13.
The organization objected to the use of the term “Katcha Nagas” in the KZC statement, considering it derogatory and offensive to the Naga people’s identity and dignity. ANSAM emphasized that any apology should only be deemed credible if those involved in the abductions and killings were identified, arrested, and punished according to the law. They highlighted that the killings took place in Leilon Vaiphei village, described as ancestral Naga land, and viewed the incident as an attack on the Naga community’s security and dignity.
Questioning the authority of the Kuki-Zo Council to issue an apology on behalf of all Kuki-Zo groups, ANSAM sought clarification on whether the statement represented the position of all constituent communities, including the Zomis. Referring to the recent killing of three Thadou church leaders, ANSAM reiterated that the Nagas had no involvement in the incident and dismissed attempts to link them to the killings as baseless and aimed at stoking communal tensions.
The association urged both the Manipur government and the Centre to ensure a prompt investigation into the killing of the six Naga hostages and to bring the perpetrators to justice. They also called for serious consideration of the demands submitted by the United Naga Council, emphasizing that justice and accountability were crucial for lasting peace and reconciliation.
KZC Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet apologized for the killings, expressing remorse and calling for a fair, transparent, and impartial investigation into all acts of violence related to the ongoing ethnic unrest in the state. He admitted that the Kuki-Zo people had made a grave mistake in killing the six Naga civilians, condemning the incident and apologizing on behalf of his people.
At least 50 individuals from the Kuki and Naga communities were held hostage by different armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts following violent incidents on May 13. Efforts by authorities, community leaders, and civil society organizations led to the release of around 30 individuals from both communities. The remaining 14 Kuki villagers were released on June 10 and handed over to the police by the United Naga Council and the Naga People’s Organisation.
On June 11, the bodies of the six Naga hostages were discovered near Kharam Vaiphei village. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh confirmed that the cases related to the abduction and killing of the six Naga villagers, along with the murder of three church leaders, had been handed over to the National Investigation Agency for a comprehensive investigation. The killings have sparked widespread condemnation from political leaders, civil society groups, and community organizations across the Northeast.
