Imphal: Twenty-one civilians belonging to the Tangkhul Naga community who had been detained by Kuki villagers and armed individuals in Manipur’s Ukhrul district were released in the early hours of Thursday after negotiations between authorities and community representatives, officials said.
The group, travelling in three vehicles, was stopped and held at Shangkai village on Wednesday afternoon by members of the Kuki community along with armed men.
An official said the civilians were freed at around 4 am after intensive talks involving the state government and civil society organisations representing both the Naga and Kuki communities.
After their release, the civilians were taken to the Litan Police Station, located about five kilometres from Shangkai, where they were later reunited with their families.
Authorities said the situation remained tense in parts of the Tangkhul Naga-dominated Ukhrul district on Thursday morning, especially in areas bordering the Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district. Security personnel have intensified patrols in the region to prevent any further incidents.
Earlier, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand had expressed deep concern over the reported detention of civilians along the Ukhrul–Imphal Road within the jurisdiction of Litan police station.
The chief minister urged those involved to show humanity and ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the civilians.
He also assured the public that the government was taking the matter seriously and that those responsible for the act would be identified and brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the Shangkai Village Authority alleged that the civilians were detained after “Tangkhul volunteers” allegedly opened fire on villagers who were working in agricultural fields.
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The village authority also claimed that two members of the Kuki community, who had gone to repair a water pipeline in the area, came under gunfire and have since been reported missing.
Officials further said that armed clashes between groups from the two communities were reported on Wednesday in nearby areas, including Thawai Kuki and Mahadeva in Ukhrul district.
