Manipur families seek release of Kuki, Naga captives

The families of 14 abducted Kuki-Zo people in Manipur’s hill districts renewed their appeal for their safe release, as the deadline set by an apex Naga organisation for the State government to track their missing community members expired on Sunday (May 17, 2026) evening.

More than 40 Kuki-Zo and Naga people, including women and minors, were held captives by suspected extremists after three church leaders belonging to the Thadou tribe were ambushed and killed by unknown gunmen on May 13. The captors released 28 hostages — 14 each from both communities — on May 15.

Kuki-Zo organisations said 14 more of their community members, including three minor students, remain in captivity. According to a Liangmai (Naga) women’s union in Kangpokpi district, six Nagas continue to be held hostage.

“We address you today not with the language of politics, conflict or adversaries but with the raw, heartfelt cry of mothers, fathers, wives, and children. We are the families of the 13 individuals from Taphou Kuki village and one from Hengbung village who are still in custody since May 13,” the families wrote in the joint appeal on Sunday.

They said most of the captives did not take part in the conflict and that many of those detained could be suffering from failing health, psychological trauma, and severe distress.

“Every passing hour inflicts profound, agonising torment on our family,” the families said, adding that mothers, fathers, and children were living in a state of unbearable grief, praying daily for the safety of their loved ones.

Recalling a “history of peace, mutual respect, and brotherhood” between Kuki and Naga villagers of Senapati district, the families said: “Our boys are not activists or combatants, and they have absolutely nothing to do with the wider conflict or the political storms surrounding us.”

Four hill districts — the Kuki-dominated Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, and the Naga-majority Senapati and Ukhrul — have been tense since the conflict between the two tribal Christian communities began in February following a late night brawl. More than half a dozen people have been killed and scores of houses have been torched since then.

Kuki-Zo organisations imposed a 48-hour shutdown on May 13 following the killing of the church leaders, which was extended by another 48 hours due to the hostage crisis. The shutdown has hit goods transport on two arterial highways linking the Imphal Valley to the rest of the country.

The United Naga Council (UNC), which set a 2 p.m. deadline on Saturday (May 16, 2026) for the Manipur government to secure the release of Nagas missing since May 13, extended it to 6 p.m. on Sunday after receiving a letter from the State Home Department that extensive search operations were in progress. “Even after these deferments, the six Naga innocent civilians are still being held hostage by the Kuki militants, as reports have been received that the State machineries have not been able to trace and rescue them, even after well past the deadlines. Given the situation, we are constrained to launch an inter-district economic blockade along the National Highways in the Naga areas in Manipur with immediate effect until the safe rescue and release of the Naga hostages are duly carried out,” the UNC said in a statement.