14 Kuki hostages freed in Manipur, CM hails move

Guwahati: Fourteen Kuki individuals, who had been abducted nearly a month ago by Naga groups in Manipur’s Senapati district, were handed over to police and the civil administration following facilitation by the United Naga Council (UNC) and Senapati-based civil society organisations.This compassionate act of the Nagas, which has been widely hailed, came despite six men of their community abducted on May 13 still remaining missing.The 14 released on Tuesday were among the 51 people from both Kuki and Naga communities abducted by armed groups of either community on May 13, just hours after three leaders of the Thadou Baptist Association India were killed in Kangpokpi district.Of them, 31 were freed within 24 hours of their abduction. The remaining 20 — 14 Kukis and six Naga men — continued to be held in captivity until Tuesday, when the Kuki men were finally released leaving the fate of the six Nagas uncertain.These abductions further widened the gap between the Nagas and the Kukis in an already ethnically volatile state that has been in turmoil since 2023 over Kuki-Meitei conflict that has claimed more than 260 lives on both sides and displaced about 60,000 people from both communities.Manipur Police said proper verification and medical examination of the individuals have been done. They added that adequate security arrangements were put in place and the route was properly secured to ensure their safe and expeditious transportation to Taphou Kuki Village.“Thereafter, the individuals were handed over to the chief of Taphou Kuki village through a duly executed handing-over and taking-over memorandum,” Manipur Police stated.CM Y Khemchand Singh welcomed the release as a “positive and humanitarian step” and appealed for renunciation of all forms of violence. He lauded the role of Naga society, describing the act as “a spirit of compassion, responsibility, and concern for human life.”Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, who played a key role in connecting the stakeholders with the Centre, wrote on X , “I welcome the safe and humane release of the Kuki hostages …I had also formally appealed for the safe release of the hostages, guided by compassion, human dignity & the values that define the Naga people. This gesture reflects our respect for human life, commitment to human rights & belief that even amidst conflict, humanity must prevail.”UNC president Ng Lorho said the decision followed appeals from govts, church bodies, and tribal organisations. “Nagas are cultured people. We uphold war ethics and also respect international law of human rights,” he added.He said, “We also took into consideration the commitment of Union home minister Amit Shah through Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, giving the assurance that the govt will put in all efforts to trace and establish the status of the missing six Nagas.”The UNC had earlier announced it would facilitate the release of the 14 Kukis on June 1 but later cancelled it following disagreements with certain youth leaders and stakeholders.