Reported by Bhadra Gogoi
Dimapur: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday condemned the killing of six Naga men in Manipur and urged the Centre and the Manipur government to take urgent steps to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
In a social media post, Rio described the killings as “tragic, inhuman and horrific” and called for the identification, arrest and prosecution of all those involved.
“Accountability is essential. Only through a fair, transparent and credible process can a measure of confidence be restored among the people,” he said.
The Chief Minister termed the incident a grave violation of human dignity and said it warranted the strongest condemnation from all sections of society.
Rio said the tragedy was particularly painful as it came shortly after the Naga community had facilitated the unconditional release of 14 Kuki hostages.
He stated that the hostages had been treated with dignity and compassion during their captivity and that every effort had been made to ensure their well-being and safety.
Calling for impartial measures to safeguard all communities, Rio said people must continue to have faith in the government, the rule of law and institutions responsible for maintaining peace and order.
“The erosion of public trust will only aggravate an already fragile and dangerous situation,” he said.
Rio also appealed to Naga people across Manipur, Nagaland, the wider Northeast and Myanmar to remain calm.
Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, the Chief Minister said he stood in solidarity with the Naga community during what he described as a dark and sorrowful period.