Over 38 Nagas, Kukis held hostage after recent killing of three church leaders in Manipur, rescue efforts underway

Guwahati: At least 38 people belonging to Kuki and Naga communities have been held hostage at separate locations in Manipur, the state home minister Govindas Konthoujam Singh said on Thursday while stating that efforts were underway to secure their safe release. 

The hostage crisis unfolded on Wednesday, hours after four persons including three church leaders belonging to Thadou community were gunned down in two separate incidents in Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi and Naga-dominated Noney district. Thadous are part of the greater Kuki-Zo communities. 

"We could not sleep the whole night as we continued our efforts to secure their safe release. We are in talks with the civil society organisations and political leaders from both Kuki and Naga communities to ensure that the innocent civilians are released without any harm," Singh said during his visit to a hospital in Noney district where a few injured persons were admitted. 

Janghaolun Haokip, information secreatry of Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), told DH on Thursday that those held hostage included at least 34 belonging to Kuki-Zo communities. "Six are from Ireng Naga-Kangchup area in Kangpokpi district while 28 are from Senapati district. But we are not sure about the exact numbers at this moment," he said while urging all to maintain restraint and de-escalate the increasing tension between the Nagas and the Kukis in Manipur. 

United Naga Council (UNC), Manipur on Wednesday evening said several Nagas were held hostage in Senapati, a Naga-dominated district having settlements of Kuki residents.

Although the Meitei-Kuki conflict since May 2023 has roiled the state, the violent incidents involving the Nagas and Kukis in Naga-dominated Ukhrul district since February has become a fresh worry for the government, both at the Centre as well as in the state. Several Nagas and Kukis have been killed in gunfights in Ukhrul and in areas bordering Kangpokpi district. 

Shutdown hits life

Meanwhile, life remained paralysed on Thursday due to the 48-hour-long "total shutdown" called by several Kuki-Zo organisations to register protest against the killing of the church leaders on Wednesday. Kangpokpi, the organisations demanded immediate arrests of those involved in the crime. 

Home Minister Singh said the security agencies were trying to identify those involved in the attacks and arrest them. He suspected that a section in the state, which was against restoration of peace in Manipur, could be resorting to such sporadic incidents of violence.