Photo Courtesy: ukhrultimes
Imphal: The United Naga Council (UNC) abruptly canceled its plan to release 14 Kuki detainees on Monday, just hours after the event was slated to take place. The apex Naga body announced the decision from its headquarters in Senapati at 6:00 PM, citing strong opposition from the Naga public as the primary reason for the reversal.
The release had been set for 2:00 PM in the presence of Home Commissioner Ashok Kumar. Earlier in the day, the UNC had framed the planned release as a humanitarian gesture guided by Christian values and international human rights norms. This initial decision followed requests from church groups, tribal organizations, and political figures like National People's Party president Conrad K. Sangma.
UNC president Ng. Lorho stated that the initial choice to release the detainees was made after the Union Home Ministry and the Manipur government promised to track down six abducted Naga civilians and enforce Suspension of Operations ground rules. Despite these assurances, public frustration mounted throughout the day as residents demanded answers regarding the safety and location of the six missing hostages.
By late afternoon, crowds began gathering near the UNC office in Karong to voice their concerns. Security forces, including the Army, Manipur Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force, were deployed to the area to maintain order. The uncertainty regarding the fate of the Naga hostages proved to be the decisive factor in halting the release.
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