GUWAHATI: At least 38 people were detained by different groups in Manipur following the killings of three Kuki church leaders in the state’s Kangpokpi district on Wednesday.
"More than 38 people were taken into custody by different groups. People belong to both the Kuki and the Naga communities,” Manipur’s home minister Govindas Konthoujam told media persons.
He also stated that the state government was holding discussions with civil society organisations and political leaders to ensure their safe release.
The Naga organisation ‘United Naga Council’ (UNC) issued an ultimatum on Thursday, demanding the release of all the “hostages.”
According to the ultimatum addressed to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, 18 Naga civilians, including women and a two-year-old baby, were held hostage by Kuki militant groups at Leilon Vaiphei village, while two Naga priests were detained at Supermeina village.
“This resulted in counteractions where members from the Kuki community were detained by Naga volunteers,” the UNC said, demanding that the government take steps for the safe and unconditional release of all the people by 6 pm on May 15.
Meanwhile, a Naga villager, Wilson Thanga, was killed, while his wife and their driver were injured in an alleged ambush by suspected militants in the Noney district on Wednesday.
Thanga’s family members announced that they would not claim the body till action was taken against those responsible for the incident.
Normalcy was affected in the Kuki areas on Thursday during a “total shutdown” called by the Kuki Inpi Manipur, protesting the killings of the church leaders.
The victims from the Thadou Baptist Association India (TBAI) and the United Baptist Council were travelling from Churachandpur to Kangpokpi for an inter-association ecclesiastical meeting when they were ambushed.
Those who lost their lives were TBAI president Rev Dr Vumthang Sitlhou, its finance secretary Rev Kaigoulun Lhouvum, and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou.
Four others were injured.
A day after visiting three of the four injured at an Imphal hospital on Wednesday, the chief minister on Thursday visited a few Tangkhul Naga villagers, who were injured in a recent attack.
Singh also visited those who were injured during Wednesday’s ambush in the Noney district. He assured that the state government would bear the medical expenses of the injured civilians.
