Imphal: Social groups and village authorities representing the Nagas and Kukis have urged the government to intervene for the safe release of civilians held captive following renewed violence over the past 24 hours in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, reports stated on Wednesday.
Following the alleged detention of innocent civilians at Shangkai along the Ukhrul-Imphal Road by suspected Kuki groups, the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) submitted a memorandum to the Manipur Chief Minister seeking immediate intervention for their safe release.
This came after reports of passengers traveling on the Ukhrul-Imphal route being stopped near Mongkot Chephu village by armed militants on Wednesday. In a hurried last phone call, an elderly passenger reported that the vehicle was forcibly stopped and the passengers were being taken away to Mongkot Chephu, a Kuki village in Ukhrul district.
In light of these developments, the Shangkai Village Authority, in a statement, strongly condemned the incident at Thowai Kuki village, where Tangkhul volunteers reportedly opened fire on cultivators in the fields.
Following that incident, several villagers were detained, and as of Wednesday, many remain in detention. Reports also indicated that several jhum huts belonging to the villagers were set on fire.
In a separate incident, two individuals who had gone to repair a water pipeline were allegedly fired upon; both remain missing, and their whereabouts are unknown.
Additionally, one person from Thowai Kuki village sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was sent to the hospital for treatment.
Due to deep concern for the safety of the detained and missing villagers, members of the Kuki community have stopped vehicles plying along the Ukhrul road, demanding the safe return of their people.