Manipur hostages: Church leaders join peace efforts as Nagas and Kukis enforce blockade

Hundreds of trucks remained stranded on NH-02 disrupting communication; Kukis seek helicopter service, fear "large-scale communal conflict."

Guwahati: Church leaders on Monday pitched in to broker peace in Manipur as Naga and Kuki organisations enforced blockade and "shutdown", respectively to intensify pressure for safe release of 20 men belonging to both the communities who had remained traceless since they were held hostage on May 13.

Hundreds of trucks remained stranded on NH-02 due to the blockade enforced on a stretch in Naga-dominated areas by the United Naga Council (UNC), halting transportation to Kuki-dominated areas and to Meitei-dominated Imphal. This triggered panic buying of petrol and other essential commodities at several places.

Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the organisation engaged in talks with the government, on Monday wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi seeking the Centre's intervention fearing a "large-scale communal conflict" involving the Nagas and the Kukis. The council also sought chopper services to address the transportation difficulties being faced by the Kukis between Churachandpur-Kangpokpi, Kangpokpi-Silchar (Assam) and Churachandpur-Moreh. It also stressed on fulfilling the demand for a Union Territory to end the conflict.

Both the communities have been demanding unconditional release of the 20 men--six belonging to Naga and 14 to Kuki communities. At least 28 persons, 14 each from both the communities, were released on May 15 but 20 had remained traceless since then, triggering fresh tension. The hostage situation unfolded following killing of three church leaders belonging to Thadou community (part of greater Kuki-Zo identity) in Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi on May 13.

UNC said among the six hostage victims, two are pastors. Both Kukis and Nagas are Christians.

Church leaders meet CM

As the tension deepened, a 10-member team of Council for Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI) and the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) met Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh in Imphal, which was attended by Deputy Chief Minister, Losii Dikho, a Naga.

"The church leaders have volunteered to broker peace between the two communities. The church leaders will be engaging in two teams to work for peace. While one team will travel to Kangpokpi district, another team will visit Senapati district. The church leaders strongly feel that hostages on both sides need to be released on humanitarian ground urgently," said a statement issued by the CM's office.

The team that will travel to Kangpokpi will meet the family members of three deceased church leaders to express condolences. The state government has assured that ex gratia will be provided to the three families. The team will then speak to the Kuki Church leaders of Kangpokpi in a bid to bring peace. The team, which plans to visit Senapati district will meet the Naga Church leaders and members of the Naga civil society organisations to discuss the prevailing tense situation and hostage crisis.