Nearly A Month After Abduction, 14 Kuki-Zo Hostages Released In Manipur; CM Welcomes Move

Published 9 June 2026 · india

Nearly A Month After Abduction, 14 Kuki-Zo Hostages Released In Manipur; CM Welcomes Move Published By, Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 22:53 IST All 14

Nearly A Month After Abduction, 14 Kuki-Zo Hostages Released In Manipur; CM Welcomes Move Published By, Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 22:53 IST All 14 Kuki-Zo individuals were released on Tuesday in Manipur's Senapati district, nearly a month after they were abducted by armed groups, an official said All 14 Kuki-Zo individuals were released on Tuesday in Manipur's Senapati district, nearly a month after they were abducted by armed groups | File image credit: PTI All 14 Kuki-Zo individuals were released on Tuesday in Manipur’s Senapati district, nearly a month after they were abducted by armed groups, an official said. According to a report by the news agency PTI, citing the official, the release of the 14 abductees 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," said the official, as quoted by the outlet. UNC president Ng Lorho said the hostages were released after appeals made 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 N Rio that the missing six Nagas would be traced," Lorho said, as quoted by PTI. Over 50 people were abducted and held hostage in May after three church leaders were killed and four others injured in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, triggering fresh tensions in the violence-hit state. Of them, 31 people — which also includes 12 Naga women from Konsakhul village and 16 Kukis from Kangpokpi district — were released.

Moreover, two Salesian brothers had also been set free. However, six Naga men are still being held hostage, with their whereabouts yet to be ascertained, according to the PTI report. ‘Positive, Humanitarian’ Step Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh welcomed the safe release of the hostages, hailing the development as a positive and humanitarian step. He also made an appeal for renunciation of all forms of violence. The Chief Minister lauded the Naga society for facilitating the safe release of the hostages, describing the act as “a spirit of compassion, responsibility, and concern for human life". Underlining that the ongoing crisis inflicts immense suffering on victims and their families, CM Singh assured citizens that strict legal action would be taken against those involved in crimes. The development comes against the backdrop of over three years of ethnic violence in Manipur — which started in May 2023 — after Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities clashed over the former’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.