‘No knowledge of abducted Naga men’
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 25: Following the abduction of six Naga civilians from Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13, 2026 whose whereabouts still remain unknown, tension is rising at an alarming level.
Pointing out that a devastating clash may break out any time between the Naga and Kuki communities, many people have asserted that it’s time for both the Central Government and the State Government to take up concrete, decisive actions.
Talking over the telephone, a key figure of a Kuki CSO told The Sangai Express that they did not have any knowledge of the abduction of the six Naga men.
“We had knowledge of the abduction of 14 Naga people and they had been released”, he said.
Sources said that the tension between the Naga and Kuki communities rose dramatically following the abduction of six Naga men from Leilon Vaiphei Kuki village on May 13.
As result, villagers settled along IT road between Kangpokpi and Tamenglong districts fled to safer places.
Kuki villagers surrounded by Naga villages fled to Kangpokpi while residents of Naga villages located in Kuki dominated areas fled to Senapati. Yet, youngsters of both Kuki and Naga villagers stayed back and they are being given arms training by their respective armed groups.
Bunkers have been built in most Kuki and Naga villages. The tension is so high that a widespread deadly clash may break out any time, said the sources.
Retired Lt Gen Konsam Himalay remarked that the unfolding situation is quite dangerous.
While women and children have left for safer places, youth are staying back and are being trained on handling firearms. Armed groups of both the communities have been patrolling in the outskirts of their respective areas. This is a very dangerous trend, he said.
This is very alarming not only for the State’s law and order but also from the perspective of National security, Konsam Himalay said.
Security forces might have been working to control the situation but the situation is very challenging and complex, he said.
The Naga-Kuki conflict will not be confined to the hills but the whole State will be crippled, and it will have serious socio-ethnic ramifications, he said.
The retired military officer said that the authorities need to examine if militants under Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement are involved in the escalation.
It must also be examined from where village volunteers/youth get weapons, ammunition and other military equipment, and who are giving them arms training, he said.
Konsam Himalay said that Manipur will burn for years if the Central and State Governments do not take up necessary actions immediately.
If the Government does not take up some concrete and effective actions, a very devastating crisis, far more complex than the one witnessed during the last three years will unfold in the State, he added.
IMPHAL, May 25: Following the abduction of six Naga civilians from Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13, 2026 whose whereabouts still remain unknown, tension is rising at an alarming level.
Pointing out that a devastating clash may break out any time between the Naga and Kuki communities, many people have asserted that it’s time for both the Central Government and the State Government to take up concrete, decisive actions.
Talking over the telephone, a key figure of a Kuki CSO told The Sangai Express that they did not have any knowledge of the abduction of the six Naga men.
“We had knowledge of the abduction of 14 Naga people and they had been released”, he said.
Sources said that the tension between the Naga and Kuki communities rose dramatically following the abduction of six Naga men from Leilon Vaiphei Kuki village on May 13.
As result, villagers settled along IT road between Kangpokpi and Tamenglong districts fled to safer places.
Kuki villagers surrounded by Naga villages fled to Kangpokpi while residents of Naga villages located in Kuki dominated areas fled to Senapati. Yet, youngsters of both Kuki and Naga villagers stayed back and they are being given arms training by their respective armed groups.
Bunkers have been built in most Kuki and Naga villages. The tension is so high that a widespread deadly clash may break out any time, said the sources.
Retired Lt Gen Konsam Himalay remarked that the unfolding situation is quite dangerous.
While women and children have left for safer places, youth are staying back and are being trained on handling firearms. Armed groups of both the communities have been patrolling in the outskirts of their respective areas. This is a very dangerous trend, he said.
This is very alarming not only for the State’s law and order but also from the perspective of National security, Konsam Himalay said.
Security forces might have been working to control the situation but the situation is very challenging and complex, he said.
The Naga-Kuki conflict will not be confined to the hills but the whole State will be crippled, and it will have serious socio-ethnic ramifications, he said.
The retired military officer said that the authorities need to examine if militants under Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement are involved in the escalation.
It must also be examined from where village volunteers/youth get weapons, ammunition and other military equipment, and who are giving them arms training, he said.
Konsam Himalay said that Manipur will burn for years if the Central and State Governments do not take up necessary actions immediately.
If the Government does not take up some concrete and effective actions, a very devastating crisis, far more complex than the one witnessed during the last three years will unfold in the State, he added.