Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: The Kuki-Zo Council clarified its stance on Friday, claiming that chairman Henlienthang Thanglet never intended to admit guilt for the murder of six Naga civilians. Officials insisted the apology was merely an expression of sympathy rather than a confession of wrongdoing by their community.
Thanglet sparked a firestorm during a press conference in Churachandpur a day earlier. He called the deaths a "grave mistake" while condemning the violence. The council now says these remarks were misread by the public.
Gunmen abducted the six civilians from Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district on May 13. Searchers found the bodies on June 10 near a Kuki-Zo village. This discovery happened only one day after 14 Kuki captives were released in the Senapati district.
The council denied any institutional involvement in the murders. They called for a fair investigation into the incident and all other violence during the ongoing ethnic conflict. They claim that true peace demands justice for every death and every burned church.
The All Naga Students' Association rejected the apology as insufficient. Meanwhile, the Zomi Students' Federation distanced itself from the council, stating they do not recognize the organization or its claims to represent the Zomi people. Conflict in Manipur has killed more than 260 people since May 2023.
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