Correspondent
IMPHAL, MAY 18 (NPN): A team of church leaders is set to visit Kangpokpi and Senapati districts in an effort to defuse the ongoing hostage crisis triggered by the killing of three church leaders in Kangpokpi district on May 13.
The initiative involves representatives from the Council for Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI) and the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC).
A 10-member delegation of church leaders called on Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday to discuss the fresh tensions arising out of the hostage stand-off between the two tribal communities. Deputy chief minister Losii Dikho also attended the meeting.
According to a release from the chief minister’s secretariat, the church leaders volunteered to broker peace between the communities.
The chief minister reportedly appreciated the initiative and encouraged the church leaders to engage with both sides to restore peace.
The church leaders will work in two separate teams, with one team travelling to Kangpokpi district and the other to Senapati district.
According to the release, the church leaders strongly felt that hostages on both sides should be released immediately on humanitarian grounds.
The Kangpokpi team will meet family members of the three slain church leaders and later hold discussions with Kuki church leaders. The government has also assured ex-gratia to the bereaved families.
Meanwhile, the Senapati team will meet Naga church leaders and civil society organisations to discuss the prevailing tension and hostage crisis.