Guwahati: Security forces stepped up operations in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Monday to rescue hostages — reportedly six Naga and 14 Kuki — held by armed groups. At the same time, an indefinite inter-district economic blockade announced by the United Naga Council along national highways passing through Naga areas on Monday, alleging the Manipur govt’s failure to secure the hostages.Authorities said 31 of the 38 kidnapped Kuki and Naga people were released between May 14 and 15 after being taken captive y armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts. The kidnappings followed a May 13 militant ambush that killed three church leaders in Kangpokpi and a civilian in Noney district. Security forces are still searching for the remaining missing persons.“It has been three days since the operation was launched, but the missing people are yet to be located,” a senior Manipur Police officer said on Monday. Police added they were uncertain whether the captives were being held in jungle hideouts or villages. On Sunday night, combing operations were carried out in the hill ranges northwest of Leilon Vaiphei and Kharam Vaiphei villages, with sniffer dogs deployed in the forested terrain.Meanwhile, Baptist Christian apex bodies — including the Manipur Baptist Convention, Council of Baptist Churches in northeast India, Asia Pacific Baptist Federation and Baptist World Alliance — issued a joint appeal urging the UNC and Kuki Inpi Manipur to facilitate the immediate, safe and unconditional release of hostages.“The continued captivity of innocent persons brings anguish to families, deepens fear and mistrust within society, and wounds the collective Christian witness in the land,” the statement said, calling for compassion, reconciliation and mercy.The Kuki-Zo Council also sent memorandums to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, seeking urgent intervention for the protection and political future of the Kuki-Zo community. Alleging that the May 13 ambush was carried out by the NSCN-IM proxy ZUF-Kamson group, the council said, “This heinous incident has further escalated tensions between the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities, leading to hostage-like situations and raising serious fears of a large-scale communal conflict if urgent intervention is not undertaken.”It also urged the Centre to order an NIA probe into the killing of the three church leaders.The council demanded relocation of examination centres for SSC and other competitive tests to safer areas in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, deployment of central forces along sensitive boundaries, and dedicated helicopter services for emergency travel. It also flagged shortages of essential commodities in Kangpokpi due to disrupted supply routes, urging the Centre to ensure secure passage of goods through the Silchar route.The Silchar corridor has become critical after Kukis imposed a blockade on NH-2 following the church leaders’ killings. Hundreds of trucks and passenger vehicles remain stranded in Senapati district, worsening the humanitarian situation.
