Manipur's Chief Minister Vows Justice After Naga Community Killings
Tragic Discovery in Imphal
Bodies, suspected to be of six persons of the Naga community, being brought at JNIMS mortuary, in Imphal, on Wednesday. (Photo:PTI)
Imphal, June 11: On Thursday, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh declared that his administration will not stand idly by in the face of violence, following the recovery of six bodies believed to belong to Naga men who were reportedly abducted by armed groups in the Kangpokpi district.
Singh emphasized that those responsible for these murders will be apprehended and face legal consequences, asserting that such acts of violence will not be tolerated by the state government.
The bodies were found after an extensive search operation that involved approximately 450 personnel from the Manipur Police, CRPF, and Assam Rifles, along with assistance from sniffer dogs and forensic experts.
These individuals are thought to be part of a group taken hostage from Leilon Vaiphei on May 13, 2026.
A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived at the JNIMS mortuary in Imphal shortly after the remains were transported there around 2 AM, as part of their investigation into the incident.
NIA officials stand guard at JNIMS mortuary, on Wednesday night. (Photo:PTI)
This tragic discovery occurred just a day after 14 Kuki individuals, who had been kidnapped by armed groups in the nearby Senapati district nearly a month prior, were released on June 9.
Both the six Nagas and the 14 Kuki individuals were abducted following the murder of three church leaders in Kangpokpi district on May 13, which has led to renewed unrest in the area.
Protesters reportedly vandalized the office of the Naga Peoples' Front in Senapati district on Wednesday night, setting fire to furniture and other property.
Additionally, two trucks near a school in the Karong area were also set ablaze. In response, the United Naga Council (UNC), the leading body of Nagas in Manipur, announced a 24-hour shutdown in certain parts of the state starting at 6 AM on Thursday.
Nagaland CM Condemns the Violence
In a related development, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio condemned the killings, labeling them as "horrific and inhuman," and urged communities in Nagaland, Manipur, and other Naga regions to uphold peace and restraint.
Rio highlighted that Naga organizations had played a crucial role in securing the safe release of the 14 Kuki hostages, following appeals from church groups led by the Baptist World Alliance and discussions with Naga civil society organizations. He personally participated in these discussions.
Security personnel stand guard at the entrance of JNIMS mortuary. (Photo:PTI)
Rio praised the UNC and other leading Naga organizations for opting for "the path of compassion and peace" despite the tense circumstances, but lamented that efforts to secure the reciprocal release of the six Naga hostages ended in tragedy.
He called for accountability and urged both the central and state governments to take immediate action to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible for the violence.
"Only through a fair, transparent, and credible process can we restore some measure of confidence among the people," he stated. He also encouraged citizens to refrain from allowing grief and anger to incite further violence and extended his condolences to the families affected by this tragedy.