17 days after church leader killings, 20 hostages remain untraced in Manipur
Reported by Sandeep Sharma
Guwahati: Seventeen days after the killing of three Kuki-Thadou church leaders triggered a wave of retaliatory abductions in Manipur, 20 civilians from the Kuki and Naga communities remain untraced, with families still waiting for answers on whether their loved ones are alive.
The continuing hostage crisis emerged from the violence that followed the May 13 ambush in Kangpokpi district, where unidentified gunmen opened fire on a convoy returning from the United Baptist Convention Assembly 2026 in Churachandpur.
The church gathering had focused on reconciliation and peacebuilding among tribal communities in the state.
The convoy came under attack while passing through the hilly stretch between Kotzim and Kotlen near Saheibung Peak. Reverend Vumthang Sitlhou, Reverend Kaigoulun Lhouvum and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou were killed on the spot, while at least five others sustained serious gunshot injuries.
The killings sparked fresh tensions in an already volatile region. In the days that followed, at least 50 civilians belonging to the Kuki and Naga communities were allegedly taken hostage by different armed groups operating in the Kuki-Zo-dominated Kangpokpi district and the Naga-dominated Senapati district.
The abductions were reportedly carried out by both sides. Community leaders and local organisations described the hostage-taking as a retaliatory fallout of the killings of the church leaders.
Through the intervention of security forces, civil society groups and community elders, around 30 hostages were released on May 14 and 15. However, efforts to secure the release of the remaining captives have made little progress.
According to information available till May 30, 14 Kuki civilians and six Naga villagers remain missing or are believed to be in captivity.
The fate of the six Naga villagers has become a matter of growing concern. There has been no information about their whereabouts for more than two weeks, raising fears among family members and community organisations that they may no longer be alive. Officials have not issued any statement regarding their condition.
Security forces continue to conduct search operations in Kangpokpi and neighbouring Senapati district. Teams of the Manipur Police, CRPF and Assam Rifles have been carrying out joint operations in areas suspected to be linked to the hostage crisis.
On May 25, security personnel arrested four persons during an operation conducted between the Moulding and Leilon Vaiphei inter-village road in Kangpokpi district. The four were identified as Thangkhomang Khongsai, Seikholet Khongsai, Lunminthang Dimngel and Kamgoulal Khongsai.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said investigations into both the killing of the three church leaders and the abduction of the six Naga villagers had been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He also confirmed the arrest of four suspects allegedly linked to the kidnapping of the Naga civilians.
The government has maintained that rescue operations are continuing. However, the absence of information regarding the hostages has intensified public anxiety and raised questions about the ability of security agencies to secure their release despite extensive operations.
The issue has also acquired a political and social dimension. Demonstrations demanding the release of the remaining hostages have continued in different parts of the state.
The Joint Civil Society Organisations of Tengnoupal district announced an indefinite economic blockade from midnight of May 28 in support of a demand by Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) for an impartial judicial inquiry into the killing of the church leaders and the immediate release of all hostages.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) also expressed concern over the incident. Its founder president, Mervyn Thomas, described the killing of the three church leaders as a horrific attack on human life and religious freedom and called for a transparent investigation.
Meanwhile, the Kuki CSO Working Committee alleged that Mongkot Chepu village in Ukhrul district came under a multi-directional armed attack on May 26. The organisation termed the incident a major security lapse and demanded protection for vulnerable Kuki-Zo villages.
The developments have further complicated the ethnic conflict that has continued in Manipur since May 2023. While the larger conflict has largely centred on tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, the present crisis has drawn both Kuki and Naga groups into a dangerous cycle of retaliation involving civilian hostages.
Amid growing concern, Neiphiu Rio appealed for the safe release of all those still in captivity.
In a letter to United Naga Council (UNC) president N.G. Lohrii on May 30, Rio expressed deep concern over the abduction of the six Naga villagers and informed the council about efforts being made by the Nagaland government to secure their recovery.
Rio said he had spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on May 29 and sought his personal intervention to trace the abducted Nagas, identify those responsible and ensure that those involved are brought to justice. According to Rio, the Union Home Minister assured him that the matter was being treated with the highest priority.
The Nagaland Chief Minister also held discussions with the Union Home Secretary and the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, both of whom assured him that efforts to locate the missing persons were underway.
At the same time, Rio appealed to the UNC to help secure the safe and unconditional release of the 14 Kuki civilians reportedly being held by Naga volunteers. Referring to Christian values of compassion, forgiveness and reconciliation, he urged all sides to protect innocent lives and prevent further escalation of tensions.
He also welcomed the peace appeal issued by church leaders and called for restraint, dialogue and cooperation among all stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum, Delhi and NCR, spokesperson Kim Haokip said the Kuki community across India and abroad was watching developments with “heavy hearts” following the killing of the three Thadou-Kuki pastors, the continued captivity of 14 Kuki men and what she described as repeated attacks on Kuki villages.
Calling for their immediate release, she said families of the hostages were living with fear, uncertainty and helplessness.
“No mother should have to wonder whether her son will return home. No wife should have to wait endlessly for news of her husband. No children should have to grow up in trauma because justice has failed them,” she said.
Haokip also alleged that Kuki villages continued to face attacks, threats and intimidation, forcing civilians to live in fear while dealing with displacement and emotional distress.
She further accused certain groups of attempting to portray victims as aggressors and warned that misinformation and propaganda were aggravating ethnic tensions.
“We urge all responsible organisations, community leaders and armed groups to refrain from inflammatory propaganda and instead choose truth, dialogue and accountability. Peace cannot be built on misinformation. Reconciliation cannot grow where hatred and false accusations are continuously manufactured,” she added.