Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: Fourteen Kuki men held hostage for nearly a month in Manipur were released on Tuesday. The men were detained in the Senapati district following a cycle of abductions that began after a May 13 ambush, which resulted in the deaths of three Thadou church leaders.
Authorities confirmed the hostages were safely released at the Senapati district headquarters in the presence of police and security personnel. They were later handed over to the leadership of Taphou Kuki village. Civil society groups, including the United Naga Council, facilitated the release after requests from state and central government officials, as well as church leaders.
United Naga Council president Ng Lorho stated the decision to release the men followed government intervention and promises regarding the remaining captives. "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.
Despite the release of the Kuki group, the six Naga men remain missing. The chief ministers of Nagaland and Meghalaya are currently advocating for their safe return. Manipur official Y. Khemchand Singh welcomed the development and urged all parties to renounce violence, praising the civil society groups for their role in the humanitarian effort.
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