14 Kuki Hostages Freed in Manipur; Northeast CMs Appeal for Release of 6 Naga Civilians

PTI, June 9, 2026, Imphal  : A total of 14 Kuki individuals who were abducted by armed groups in Manipur’s Senapati district nearly a month ago were released on Tuesday, an official said.

The focus is now on six Naga men, who have also been held hostage for around a month, and the chief ministers of two other northeastern states, Nagaland and Meghalaya, have sought their safe release.

Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh, who had earlier appealed that the six be set free, welcomed Tuesday’s development and called for renunciation of all forms of violence.

The release of the 14, who were abducted last month following the killing of three church leaders in Kangpokpi district, was facilitated by the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Naga community in Manipur, and other Senapati district-based civil society organisations.

“All of them were released safe and sound at the Senapati district headquarters in the presence of police and security forces,” the official said.

UNC president Ng Lorho said the hostages were set free following appeals by the central and state governments, church bodies and apex tribal organisations.

“Nagas are cultured people. We respect human rights. We also took into consideration the assurances made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio that the missing six Nagas would be traced,” Lorho said.

More than 50 people were abducted and held hostage by armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts on May 13, hours after three church leaders were killed in an ambush in Kangpokpi district.

Of them, 31 people have been released, including 12 Naga women from Konsakhul village and 16 Kukis from Kangpokpi district earlier. Two Salesian brothers had also been set free.

Six Naga men, however, continue to be held hostage, and their whereabouts are not yet known.

The Chief Minister lauded the Naga society for its role in securing the safe release of the Kuki hostages and termed this act a spirit of compassion, responsibility and concern for human life.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio also welcomed the development, while appealing for the immediate and unconditional release of the six Naga civilians to help restore trust between communities.

“At a time when emotions run high and communities continue to bear the scars of conflict, the decision to place humanity above differences sends a powerful message of hope to the people of Manipur and the wider Northeast,” Sangma said in Shillong.

“I respectfully renew my appeal to all Kuki civil society organisations, community leaders and concerned groups to reciprocate this noble gesture by ensuring the immediate and unconditional release of the six Naga civilians,” said Sangma, also the NPP chief.

Rio hailed the safe and humane release of the Kuki hostages by the UNC and Naga civil society organisations, in response to appeals made by church bodies led by the Baptist World Alliance.

“We once again appeal for the safe release of the 6 Naga hostages in a reciprocal and humanitarian manner so that they return to their loved ones. We hope this gesture will help pave the way for trust, understanding and dialogue as we strive for genuine peace, reconciliation and harmony,” Rio said in a post on X.

After discussions with all stakeholders, the UNC facilitated the safe release of all 14 Kukis and handed them over to the district administration, police and security forces, Lorho said.

One of the released men, Paotinkai Chongloi of Taphou Kuki village, said, “We were detained for 27 days under the Naga Village Guard. We were treated well and provided with good food.”

The Manipur Chief Minister also stressed that the present crisis inflicts immense suffering on victims and their families and assured that strict legal action would be taken against those involved and justice would be served.

According to officials, the 14 Kukis could have been set free on June 1, but the UNC had cancelled their scheduled release following disagreements with certain youth leaders and stakeholders of the tribal community of the northeastern state, which has been in the grip of violence for three years.

At least 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless since May 2023 due to ethnic violence in Manipur between the valley-based Meiteis and the Kukis living in the hill districts.