UKHRUL: National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad K. Sangma has appealed to the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and the United Naga Council (UNC) for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians currently held hostage amid the ongoing Naga-Kuki tensions in Manipur.
In a letter issued on June 1, Meghalaya chief minister Sangma said reports indicate that six Naga men and 14 Kuki civilians have remained in captivity since May 13 and 14, causing immense hardship to their families and communities.
Calling the issue a humanitarian concern, Sangma said civilians with no role in the conflict should not be made to suffer. He stated that the continued captivity of innocent people deepens mistrust and widens divisions between communities.
The NPP chief urged the two organisations to ensure the safety and well-being of those being held and facilitate their return to their families at the earliest. He also appealed for dialogue and peaceful engagement, saying the challenges facing Manipur cannot be resolved through abduction and fear.
Sangma further said the NPP, along with elders and civil society leaders from different communities, was willing to support efforts for a safe and transparent release process.
Also read | UNC Calls Off Release of 14 Kuki Detainees Hours After Announcement
Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also appealed for the safe and early release of the six abducted Naga civilians and 14 Kuki civilians.
In a letter to the UNC, Rio said he had raised the matter with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought his personal intervention to trace the six missing Nagas, secure their release, and bring those responsible to justice. He said the Union Home Minister assured him that the matter would be accorded the highest priority.
Rio further urged the UNC to facilitate the safe and unconditional release of the 14 Kuki civilians reportedly being held by Naga volunteers, stressing the need for compassion, restraint and reconciliation.
Both appeals come amid mounting pressure from Naga civil society organisations seeking clarity on the fate of the six Naga men who were reportedly abducted on May 13. In contrast to the 14 Kuki civilians currently being held by Naga groups—whose detention has been publicly acknowledged, with Naga organisations stating that food, shelter are being provided—Kuki civil society organisations have consistently denied holding any Naga hostages and maintain that they have no information regarding the whereabouts of the six missing Nagas.
However, in an exclusive video interview recorded by Ukhrul Times, Kachiaklungliu, wife of Dr. Manu who is one of the six missing Naga hostages, stated that her husband was forcibly abducted in her presence. According to her account, Dr. Manu was violently taken away by armed men while she witnessed the incident firsthand.