Y Khemchand Singh on Saturday announced that the Manipur government would hand over the investigation into the abduction of six missing Naga villagers to the National Investigation Agency amid rising tensions in the hill districts of Manipur.
The decision was conveyed during a high-level meeting between the chief minister and a six-member delegation of the United Naga Council led by its president NG Lorho.
The meeting took place at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and focused primarily on the deteriorating law and order situation in the conflict-affected hill districts of the state.
Senior members of the state government, including Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, and several Naga MLAs, were also present during the discussions.
According to an official statement released after the meeting, the UNC delegation urged the government to intensify efforts to locate six abducted Naga villagers from Konsakhul village in Kangpokpi district who have remained missing since May 13.
“The Chief Minister informed the UNC delegation that the case of the six abducted Nagas will be handed over to the NIA,” the official statement said.
The chief minister additionally informed the delegation that another high-profile case — involving the killing of three church leaders in Kangpokpi district earlier this month — had already been transferred to the National Investigation Agency for investigation.
According to Singh, state authorities have been conducting search and rescue operations continuously since May 14 in an effort to trace the missing villagers and restore stability in the region.
At the same time, the chief minister appealed to the United Naga Council to help secure the release of 14 Kuki civilians whom the state government claims remain in captivity following recent violence in the area.
Singh also urged Kuki community organisations to cooperate in locating the missing Naga villagers and appealed to all communities to assist the administration in restoring peace and normalcy across the conflict-hit hill districts.
The latest developments follow a series of violent incidents reported in Kangpokpi and Senapati district on May 13.
During those incidents, more than 38 individuals were reportedly abducted and taken hostage by armed groups only hours after three church leaders were killed in an ambush attack.
Officials stated that 31 of those abducted have since been released, including 12 Naga women and 16 members of the Kuki community.
However, six Naga men remain untraced, intensifying tensions and fears of renewed ethnic conflict in the sensitive hill regions.
Meanwhile, Kuki Inpi Manipur, regarded as the apex body representing Kuki tribes in the state, has alleged that 14 members of the Kuki community continue to be held hostage by Naga groups.
The competing claims regarding abducted civilians from both communities have further complicated the already fragile security situation in the region.
The incidents have once again highlighted the deep ethnic tensions and volatile security conditions prevailing in Manipur, particularly in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts, where clashes, abductions, and armed confrontations between different groups have repeatedly triggered instability over the past several months.
The transfer of the case to the National Investigation Agency is now being viewed as an attempt by the state government to bring greater credibility and central oversight to the investigation amid mounting pressure from community organisations and growing fears of escalation.
Authorities continue to maintain heavy security deployment in sensitive areas while appealing to all sides to avoid further violence and cooperate with peace and rescue efforts underway in the state.
