Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Saturday said the case of abduction of six Naga villagers by armed militants will be handed over to the NIA, an official statement said.
“A six member delegation of the United Naga Council (UNC) met with Singh and his cabinet colleagues at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to discuss the prevailing law and order situation in the state” it said.
The UNC team was led by its president NG Lorho while the government was represented by Singh Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam and Naga MLAs.
The UNC team demanded the government to trace the six abducted Naga villagers of Konsakhul in Kangpokpi district, it said.
“The Chief Minister told the UNC delegation that the case of six abducted Nagas will be handed over to the NIA” it said adding “the killing of three church leaders on May 13th last in Kangpokpi district had also been handed over to the NIA.”
Singh also said that search and rescue operation has been launched since May 14th last to trace the whereabouts of the six Naga villagers and appealed to the UNC to help in securing the release of 14 Kuki civilians who have been held captive since the beginning of the incident.
He also appealed to the Kuki communities to help in tracing the six Naga villagers.
Singh urged all the communities to extend support to the government in normalizing the situation and restore peace in the state.
More than 38 people were abducted and held hostage by armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts on May 13, hours after three church leaders were killed in an ambush in Kangpokpi district.
Of them, 31 people have been released, including 12 Naga women and 16 Kukis. Six Naga men, however, continued to be held hostage and their whereabouts are not yet known.
Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex body of the Kuki tribes in the state, also claimed that 14 people from the community continued to be held hostage by Naga groups.
Case of six abducted Nagas to be handed over to the NIA: Manipur CM
