Hours after the release of 14 hostages from the Kuki community, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio urged concerned groups to ensure the safe return of six Naga villagers still in captivity. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh welcomed the release of the 14 hostages, emphasizing the importance of this positive and humanitarian gesture. While the Kuki hostages have been freed, the whereabouts of the six Naga villagers abducted on May 13 remain unknown.
According to officials, the 14 Kuki villagers were handed over to a police station in Senapati district by the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO). Chief Minister Rio appealed for the safe release of the remaining six Naga hostages in a reciprocal and humane manner, emphasizing the need for trust, understanding, and dialogue to achieve genuine peace and harmony. He also expressed hope that this gesture would pave the way for reconciliation and lasting peace in Manipur.
Chief Minister Rio commended the safe release of the Kuki hostages by the United Naga Council and Naga civil society organizations, following appeals from Church bodies. He highlighted the importance of compassion, human dignity, and the values that define the Naga people in resolving conflicts. Manipur Chief Minister Singh praised the efforts of Naga civil society groups in securing the hostages’ release, emphasizing the values of compassion, responsibility, and concern for human life.
Singh called for a complete renunciation of violence by all sections of society, acknowledging the suffering caused by the ongoing crisis. He assured that strict legal action would be taken against those responsible for the abductions, ensuring justice for the victims and their families. Police officials reported that around 50 individuals from the Kuki and Naga communities were allegedly held hostage by armed groups, with efforts underway for their safe release.
