TAMENGLONG/UKHRUL: In a record turnout, thousands of protestors gathered at the Lower Ground in Manipur’s Tamenglong district headquarters on Thursday to demand the immediate and safe release of the six Naga civilians reportedly held hostage by Kuki miscreants since May 13.
Organised by the Joint Tribes Council – Manipur (JTC-M), the public rally unanimously voiced the anguish and demand of the people regarding the continued captivity of the six innocent hostages.
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Demanding direct intervention by all the relevant authorities to secure the release of the six hostages and bring justice to the perpetrators, protestors rallied through the town shouting slogans such as “Release Six Naga hostages”, “Stop Violence”, “We Want Justice”, “Suspend SoO Operation”, among others.
The protestors also demanded abrogation of SoO camps in all Naga rightful indigenous jurisdictions.
The rally culminated peacefully at Jadonang Park.
Later, a memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister of India through the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong demanding immediate high-level intervention by deploying CRPF/IRB or any relevant unit for discreet but firm operations to locate and secure the release of the hostages, while prioritising their life safety at the earliest.
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It urged the Prime Minister to deploy additional central forces in sensitive zones to prevent reprisal attacks or further abductions and issue a clear statement condemning hostage taking as a criminal act, reaffirming the state’s duty to protect all citizens regardless of community, and updating the public on proactive measures being taken.
It further demanded to arrange a standby medical team and trauma counsellors for the hostages upon release.
On May 13, 2026, six innocent civilians from the Naga community were abducted from Leilon Kuki village by illegal Kuki miscreants. Despite the passage of several days, the hostages have not been released nor has any credible assurance been given regarding their safety.
Urging the Prime Minister for a decisive, humane, and swift action, the Joint Tribes Council – Manipur, representing Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei, Zeme, appealed to the PM to acknowledge its memorandum and give an official response within 24 hours.
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