Mass protests erupt in Manipur hill districts over 8-day hostage crisis

Key points

• GUWAHATI Multiple mass protests erupted across Manipur’s hill districts on Wednesday, with both Naga and Kuki-Zo communities demanding the immediate and safe release of their members.Naga groups said six men abducted on May 13 by Kuki-Zo armed groups remain untraced.
• The Kuki-Zo community said 14 people, including three students, are still in the custody of Naga armed groups.Security forces continued search operations in Kangpokpi district to trace the missing civilians.
• Police said sniffer dogs have been deployed as combing operations continue in the ranges surrounding Leilon Vaiphei, Songtun, Khunkho and P Molding villages.The crackdown follows the abduction of more than 38 people from both communities on May 13, hours after three leaders of Thadou Baptist Association India were gunned down in an ambush in Kangpokpi.
• On May 14, both groups released 14 captives each.In Tamenglong, hundreds of women gathered at Jadonang Park under the banner of the Joint Tribes Women...