Manipur CM assures that NIA is investigating the abduction of Naga men

Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh met a six-member delegation of the United Naga Council in Imphal to discuss the prevailing situation in the affected hill areas. Photo: X/@YKhemchandSingh.

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday (May 23, 2026) assured that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was probing the alleged abduction of six Naga men by Kuki extremists as the hostage crisis continued to keep the state on edge.

On the other hand, Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex body of the Kuki community in Manipur, extended its shutdown for another 48 hours from May 13 to pressurize the government to facilitate the release of 14 Kuki people, including three minor students, allegedly held captive by Nagas. She said the decision was taken in the larger interest of protecting the rights, dignity and future of the Kuki-Zo community.

Along with Deputy Chief Minister Losia Dikho and Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, the Chief Minister met a six-member United Naga Council (UNC) delegation in Imphal to discuss the prevailing situation in the affected hill areas.

I received the United Naga Council (UNC) delegation today at the Secretariat in the presence of Hon’ble Deputy CM Shri Losii Dikho, Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Govindas Konthoujam and other Hon’ble MLAs.

They held constructive discussions on the prevailing situation and measures… pic.twitter.com/utg0b3JeFZ

— Khemchand Yumnam (@YKhemchandSingh) May 23, 2026

The UNC team led by its president Ng. Lorho urged the government to intensify efforts to trace six kidnapped Naga villagers from Konsakhul village in Kangpokpi district.

The chief minister responded by assuring the team that the kidnapping case would be handed over to the NIA, as well as the killing of three church leaders in Kangpokpi district on May 13.

The killing of the church leaders led to Kukis and Nagas holding more than 40 people from each other’s communities hostage. 28 of them – 14 from each community – were released two days later in a hostage-for-hostage exchange facilitated by security forces.

The chief minister also said that search and rescue operations were underway since May 14 to trace the missing villagers. He appealed to both UNC and Kuki community leaders to help secure the release of the captives.

NCC cadets were evacuated

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has evacuated 132 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets from Imphal. These cadets reached the capital Manipur by road to the regional air camp from May 11 to May 20 but could not return due to highway blockades.

“The NCC North Eastern Region Headquarters has planned the evacuation of the cadets in consultation with the Director General of the NCC Headquarters and in coordination with the Eastern Air Command,” an NCC official said.

Three AN-32 aircraft were used to evacuate 72 cadets to Guwahati and 60 to Jorhat, he said.

Published – 23 May 2026 22:00 IST