IMPHAL, MAY 16: The Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi (LNKR) or Liangmai Student Union, expressed that it was deeply unfortunate that on the fateful day of May 13, 2026, “several Thadou religious leaders were brutally killed and many others sustained injuries in an ambush allegedly carried out by Kuki militants”, adding, “It is equally heartbreaking that internal issues within the Kuki community have led to such a tragic fate for innocent church leaders at Kotlen village dominated by Kukis and control by Suspension of Operation (SoO) militants”.
The LNKR alleged that without proper verification or establishing the actual perpetrators, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) hastily released statements falsely accusing the Zeliangrong Nagas and NSCN-IM. “And the so-called Leilon Vaiphei group, illegal Kuki immigrants settled in Naga ancestral lands, allegedly abducted innocent Naga civilians on May 13, 2026 at around 11 am. Following the abduction, the whereabouts of the Naga civilians remained unknown”, the Liangmai student union said.
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In response to the growing tension and uncertainty, Naga volunteers intercepted Kuki travellers at Ireng village and Senapati district headquarters at around 5 pm on the same day, said the LNKR. However, the Kuki travellers were kept safely and treated on humanitarian grounds. “It must be clearly stated that the Naga volunteers only detained the travellers in connection with securing the safe release of the abducted Naga civilians”, it explained.
The Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi, Manipur (LNKR) then strongly condemned the “repeated false allegations” made against the Senapati District Students Association (SDSA) president by the Kukis are completely baseless and misleading. It said the abduction of innocent students by the “so-called Kuki terrorists” compelled the Naga volunteers to intervene and demand the immediate and unconditional release of the Naga hostages”. Despite this, the abductors allegedly remained adamant and refused to release the innocent civilians, it added.
“It is therefore shocking that organizations such as Kuki Student Organisation (KSO) Delhi & NRC choose to organize protests on May 16, 2026 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, targeting the Nagas, despite statements from the Thadou Inpi Manipur itself indicating that the Thadou leaders were killed by Kuki militants”, the LNKR also said.
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Today, Manipur continues to burn due to irresponsible propaganda, false allegations, and divisive narratives spread by Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), said the LNKR. “Such actions have traumatized innocent people and caused immense suffering among the general public. And the false accusations against the SDSA president are entirely unfounded”, it stated.
In this connection, the KIM shall be held solely responsible for spreading misinformation and escalating tensions, cautioned the LNKR, adding, “If any harm comes to the innocent Naga hostages, the Nagas will not remain silent”.