Participating in the calling attention motion, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said that yesterday’s unfortunate incident began when some armed Naga youths came to Thawai Kuki village and burnt down some farmers’ huts. And then, they reportedly abducted two Kuki men.
The Home Minister said that as the news of the abduction of two Kukis spread, the armed Kuki men stopped three vehicles carrying 21 Tangkhul Nagas at Shangkai on the Imphal-Ukhrul Road and took them hostage.
Govindas said that central forces led by BSF were sent in for rescue, but they were stopped by womenfolk on the road. Later in the evening, the army stepped in and cordoned off the place where 21 Tangkhul Nagas were held hostage, he said.
The Home Minister said that there were reports of firing in the Mapithel area between 6:30 pm and 9 pm yesterday, and one Kuki identified as Lanminthang Kipgen sustained a bullet injury on his leg. He was evacuated to a hospital in Kangpokpi.
He then informed the House that the Chief Minister immediately informed Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. The MHA then stepped in to help rescue the hostages. Govindas said that after long negotiations, the 21 Tangkhul Naga villagers were released at around 3 am.
Govindas said that guns cannot bring solutions or peace, and any solution has to come to the negotiating table. He appealed to all civil society organizations to work for unity. He urged the people to work as Manipuris.
Supplementing the Home Minister, the Chief Minister said that people of the state seem to have forgotten the word “Manipuri.” Khemchand said that Meiteis, Nagas, and Kukis have started identifying themselves by their community. “We need to tell ourselves that we are Manipuri first,” he said.
