In Manipur, a deepening hostage crisis has prompted church leaders to mediate between Naga and Kuki communities, as blockades disrupt essential supplies and escalate communal tensions. Twenty men from the Naga and Kuki communities remain missing since being taken hostage on May 13, after 28 others were released on May 15. The situation has sparked fresh hostilities, with the United Naga Council enforcing a blockade on National Highway 02, stranding hundreds of trucks and halting supplies to Kuki and Meitei areas.
Church Leaders Step In
Christian leaders from Baptist churches have intervened, meeting with Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to broker peace. They visited both Kuki and Naga communities to address the crisis and reduce tensions. The mediation comes after the killing of three Kuki church leaders, which escalated hostilities between the two groups.
Kuki Community Demands
The Kuki-Zo Council has called for helicopter services and Union Territory status from the central government, warning of potential large-scale communal conflict if their demands are not met. The blockade and hostage crisis have severely impacted daily life, with essential goods becoming scarce in affected areas.
The hostage situation began on May 13, when 20 men were taken from their homes. While 28 were released two days later, the remaining 20 are still unaccounted for. The crisis has highlighted the fragile peace in Manipur, where ethnic tensions often simmer beneath the surface.
Church leaders continue their efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages and restore calm. The state government is also working to de-escalate the situation, but the blockade remains in place, causing widespread hardship.
