Mass protests erupt in Manipur hill districts over 8-day hostage crisis

GUWAHATI: Multiple mass protests erupted across Manipur’s hill districts on Wednesday, with both Naga and Kuki-Zo communities demanding the immediate and safe release of their members.

Naga groups said six men abducted on May 13 by Kuki-Zo armed groups remain untraced. The Kuki-Zo community said 14 people, including three students, are still in the custody of Naga armed groups.

Security forces continued search operations in Kangpokpi district to trace the missing civilians. Police said sniffer dogs have been deployed as combing operations continue in the ranges surrounding Leilon Vaiphei, Songtun, Khunkho and P Molding villages.

The crackdown follows the abduction of more than 38 people from both communities on May 13, hours after three leaders of Thadou Baptist Association India were gunned down in an ambush in Kangpokpi. On May 14, both groups released 14 captives each.

In Tamenglong, hundreds of women gathered at Jadonang Park under the banner of the Joint Tribes Women Association (JTWA), condemning the kidnappings and calling for justice for Wilson Thanga, a Chiru Naga killed on May 13 in Noney district. Shops downed shutters and traffic came to a halt during the demonstration.

Similar sit-ins were held in Ukhrul and Chandel, where women from all nine Naga tribes joined protests led by the Naga Women’s Union.

The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) and Kuki Women’s Union staged a parallel sit-in at Shangkai in Ukhrul district, citing the untraced 14 Kuki men and what they termed systemic atrocities against the Kuki-Zo community.

CM Y Khemchand Singh said “disarming people with firearms in all parts of the state is of urgent need” and urged community leaders to convince youths to shun violence. He said peace was the only solution and promised skill-development initiatives to create jobs outside govt.

Singh made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the Tangkhul Naga community from Sinakeithei Village in Ukhrul district, who urged him to deploy state police forces in the village amid tensions. The delegation was accompanied by Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah of the Naga People's Front (NPF), an ally of the ruling BJP.

Villagers demanded proper security, adequate manpower at Sinakeithei police station, and the proper functioning of the sub-divisional collector (SDC)’s office at Sinakeithei.

The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Ukhrul district, organised a sit-in protest at Shangkai on Wednesday, raising demands related to the welfare and security of the Kuki community.