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 districts. Photo: X/@YKhemchandSingh.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday (May 23, 2026) assured a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into 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 Manipur’s Kuki community, extended its shutdown since May 13 by another 48 hours to exert pressure on the government to facilitate the release of 14 Kuki people, including three minor students, allegedly held captive by Nagas. It said the decision was taken in the larger interest of safeguarding the rights, dignity, and future of the Kuki-Zo community.
Along with Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho and Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, the Chief Minister met a six-member delegation of the United Naga Council (UNC) in Imphal to discuss the prevailing situation in the affected hill districts.
The UNC team, led by its president Ng. Lorho urged the government to intensify efforts to trace six abducted Naga villagers from Konsakhul village in Kangpokpi district.
The Chief Minister responded by assuring the team that the abduction case would be handed over to the NIA, just as the killing of three church leaders in Kangpokpi district on May 13 was.
The killings of the church leaders led to Kukis and Nagas holding more than 40 people from each other’s communities as hostages. 28 of them — 14 from each community — were released two days later in a hostage-for-hostage exchange facilitated by the security forces.
The Chief Minister also said search-and-rescue operations have been under way since May 14 to trace the missing villagers. He appealed to both the UNC and Kuki community leaders to assist in securing the release of the captives.
NCC cadets evacuated
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force evacuated 132 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets from Imphal. These cadets reached the Manipur capital by road for a regional flying camp from May 11 to May 20, but could not return due to highway blockades.
“The NCC North Eastern Region Directorate planned the evacuation of the cadets in consultation with the Headquarters Director General NCC and in coordination with the Headquarters 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 – May 23, 2026 10:00 pm IST
