IMPHAL, MAY 21: With six Naga hostages yet to be traced, the United Naga Council (UNC) has urged Union Home minister Amit Shah to personally intervene for their release and questioned whether alleged “interference” by Manipur deputy chief minister Nemcha Kipgen had rendered the state machinery and central security forces “ineffective”.
According to Newmai News Network, UNC in a memorandum submitted to the Union Home minister through DC Senapati on Thursday, alleged that the six Nagas were being held hostage by the Kuki National Front-P (KNF-P) and Leilon Vaiphei village.
UNC stated that deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen was the wife of KNF-P supremo Thangboi Kipgen. Under the subject “Urgent intervention for release of 6 Naga hostages held by Kuki National Front-P (KNF-P) and Leilon Vaiphei village”, UNC sought Shah’s “personal intervention for the immediate release of the 6 Naga hostages held by the KNF-P and Leilon Vaiphei village, to de-escalate the grave and rapidly worsening situation in the state”.
According to UNC, eyewitnesses present at the scene had corroborated that the remaining six hostages, including two pastors, were still in Kuki custody.
UNC stated that 18 Naga civilians, including men, women and married couples, were abducted in broad daylight at Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13, 2026 between 10:30 a.m. and 10:50 a.m., adding that 12 women and a baby were later released on May 15.
The memorandum further alleged that information from “reliable sources” indicated that the six Naga hostages “may have been done away with” while in the custody of KNF-P.
UNC also alleged that “indecisiveness and inaction” on the part of the Manipur government had delayed resolution of the matter, and claimed that questions were being raised by the public on whether the failure of the authorities was due to “interference” by the deputy chief minister.
“The Naga people, therefore, urge your good office to intervene for the handing over of the Naga hostages, dead or alive, without further delay,” the memorandum stated.
