Participating in the calling attention motion, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam detailed a recent incident involving the abduction of two Kuki men by armed Naga youths in Thawai Kuki village, which escalated tensions. The situation further intensified when armed Kuki men took hostage 21 Tangkhul Nagas traveling along the Imphal-Ukhrul Road. Despite attempts by central forces, led by the BSF, to rescue the hostages, they faced obstruction from local women. Ultimately, the army intervened to secure the area. During the unfolding events, gunfire was reported in the Mapithel area, resulting in injuries to a Kuki individual, Lanminthang Kipgen, who was later hospitalized. After negotiations mediated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the hostages were released around 3 am. Govindas emphasized that resolutions must emerge from dialogue rather than violence, urging civil society to foster unity. Chief Minister Khemchand echoed this sentiment, lamenting that community identities have overshadowed the collective identity of “Manipuri,” highlighting the need to prioritize this shared identity among Meiteis, Nagas, and Kukis.
Tangkhul Naga Hostage Rescue: MHA Intervention Key, Says Govinda’s
