At least 28 hostages from the Naga and Kuki communities were reported released in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts early Friday morning, providing a measure of relief after days of violent clashes, police said. According to authorities, 14 Naga hostages — including 11 women and one child from Konsakhul Naga village — were freed at Makhan village, while two Catholic Salesian brothers associated with Don Bosco, one of them from Nagaland, were released at a separate location by a Kuki group. Police added that six Naga men remain unaccounted for and are still believed to be in captivity.
One of the released Naga women described being blindfolded and bound immediately after capture. “We were taken to various mountainous locations, blindfolded and with our hands tied. However, we were not physically assaulted,” she said. The account was given to police following the handover.
The releases appear to have been part of a reciprocal exchange: the Naga group handed over 14 people from the Kuki community — four men and 10 women — to security forces on Thursday night. Earlier on Thursday evening, three more people from the Kuki community, including an 18-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man, were separately handed over, bringing the total number of released captives to 31 so far.
Authorities say the hostage-taking followed ambushes in Kangpokpi and Noney districts. On Thursday, Govindas Konthoujam reported that more than 38 people from both communities were being held after those attacks. Security forces continue to investigate the incidents, and efforts to trace the remaining detainees are ongoing. The releases have eased immediate tensions in affected areas, but officials caution that the situation remains fragile.
Original Source: https://eastmojo.com/manipur/2026/05/15/manipur-28-hostages-from-naga-and-kuki-communities-released/
Category: Free Digest,Manipur,National News,News,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2026-05-15 11:43:00
