ANSAM slams KZC's bid to shield abductors
|
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 27: The All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) has slammed the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) for its attempt to shield the individuals and forces involved in the abduction of six Naga men on May 13, 2026 from Leilon Vaiphei village, Kangpokpi district.
In retaliation to the growing public demand for accountability from the chief of Leilon Vaiphei village, Lalboi Vaiphei, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), in its statement addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on May 25, 2026, claimed that Lalboi Vaiphei had “absolutely no connection whatsoever” with the alleged abduction incident and claimed that he was away from the area for medical reasons at the time of occurrence.
A statement issued by ANSAM asserted that such explanations are baseless, unacceptable, and cannot be used as an excuse to escape responsibility.
Even if the village chief was physically absent during the incident, he had village authorities and functionaries under his authority who were duty-bound to respond, intervene, and cooperate in addressing the matter, it said.
In this digital era, absence from the location cannot be conveniently used to evade accountability. As the chief of the village, Lalboi Vaiphei must take responsibility for every major incident occurring within and around the village jurisdiction.
ANSAM asserted that it is an undeniable fact that the perpetrators who abducted 18 civilians forcibly separated the 6 men from their families and were taken away in vehicles. The testimonies of the released women clearly identified “around 30 Kuki women and men” who subsequently handed over the six captives to “Kuki militants.”
This itself provides a concrete starting point for investigation and action. The four individuals recently apprehended in connection with the case must face the full weight of justice, and further arrests must follow without delay, it said.
Although there have been attempts to link the abduction incident to the ambush of May 13 morning wherein three senior Church leaders of the Thadou Baptist Church Association were brutally shot dead, the Thadou apex community bodies themselves openly clarified on the very evening of May 13 that the attack was carried out by Kuki militants.
These incidents had absolutely nothing to do with the Naga people, ANSAM asserted.
Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM)’s denial collapses under the weight of its own contradictions and inconsistencies. Truth cannot be buried beneath orchestrated narratives and propaganda, said the Naga students’ body.
It said that the Naga people will not remain silent until every missing son is accounted for.
It also demanded immediate, impartial, and decisive action from the concerned authorities to trace the missing six Naga men, ensure justice to the victims and families, and bring every individual involved in the abduction to justice without fear or favour.
IMPHAL, May 27: The All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) has slammed the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) for its attempt to shield the individuals and forces involved in the abduction of six Naga men on May 13, 2026 from Leilon Vaiphei village, Kangpokpi district.
In retaliation to the growing public demand for accountability from the chief of Leilon Vaiphei village, Lalboi Vaiphei, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), in its statement addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on May 25, 2026, claimed that Lalboi Vaiphei had “absolutely no connection whatsoever” with the alleged abduction incident and claimed that he was away from the area for medical reasons at the time of occurrence.
A statement issued by ANSAM asserted that such explanations are baseless, unacceptable, and cannot be used as an excuse to escape responsibility.
Even if the village chief was physically absent during the incident, he had village authorities and functionaries under his authority who were duty-bound to respond, intervene, and cooperate in addressing the matter, it said.
In this digital era, absence from the location cannot be conveniently used to evade accountability. As the chief of the village, Lalboi Vaiphei must take responsibility for every major incident occurring within and around the village jurisdiction.
ANSAM asserted that it is an undeniable fact that the perpetrators who abducted 18 civilians forcibly separated the 6 men from their families and were taken away in vehicles. The testimonies of the released women clearly identified “around 30 Kuki women and men” who subsequently handed over the six captives to “Kuki militants.”
This itself provides a concrete starting point for investigation and action. The four individuals recently apprehended in connection with the case must face the full weight of justice, and further arrests must follow without delay, it said.
Although there have been attempts to link the abduction incident to the ambush of May 13 morning wherein three senior Church leaders of the Thadou Baptist Church Association were brutally shot dead, the Thadou apex community bodies themselves openly clarified on the very evening of May 13 that the attack was carried out by Kuki militants.
These incidents had absolutely nothing to do with the Naga people, ANSAM asserted.
Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM)’s denial collapses under the weight of its own contradictions and inconsistencies. Truth cannot be buried beneath orchestrated narratives and propaganda, said the Naga students’ body.
It said that the Naga people will not remain silent until every missing son is accounted for.
It also demanded immediate, impartial, and decisive action from the concerned authorities to trace the missing six Naga men, ensure justice to the victims and families, and bring every individual involved in the abduction to justice without fear or favour.