Mutilated bodies of murdered hostages identified

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 11: Mortal remains of the six Naga hostages which were brought to JNIMS mortuary at around 1.45 am today have been identified.
The six Naga civilians who were abducted from Leilon Vaiphei Kuki village  on May 13 and held hostage by Kuki militants were found dead in a jungle of Kharam Vaiphei village, Kangpokpi district on June 10, 2026.
As all the bodies have been mutilated and dismembered, both police and family members had a difficult time in identifying them.
Significantly and in line with a declaration made by the UNC on February 6, 2026 that Leilon Vaiphei village is a land of the Nagas, a Naga man said that they will not claim the mortal remains until and unless the authorities give permission to bury them in Leilon Vaiphei.
Speaking to media persons at JNIMS mortuary this evening, Konsakhul village chairman D Adam Liangmai  said that all the six bodies have been identified.
The bodies were identified not from their faces or physiques but from the dresses, he said.
“We could not look at the mortal remains which bore unmistakable signs of unimaginable torture. All the bodies were badly mutilated and dismembered. We could not stand the sight of such gore and savagery”, he said.
The 14 Kuki detainees were released unharmed with the hope of exchanging them with the six Naga hostages, Adam Liangmai said.
“Contrary to our hope, all the six Naga hostages have been murdered in the most gruesome manner with their bodies mutilated beyond recognition. This is shocking and intolerable beyond words”, he said.
Saying that they do not even cut meat in such a savage manner, he asked whether the murderers of the hostages are cannibals.
He said that the Government has not shared any information with them regarding who the murderers are and from where the dead bodies were recovered.
The mortal remains have just been identified and post mortem has not been done. As such, there is no question of claiming the mortal remains at present.    
Earlier, on learning that the bodies of the Naga hostages have been recovered and they would be brought to JNIMS mortuary, a large number of people waited for the mortal remains at JNIMS last night.
Two vans (Tata Wingers) carrying CRPF personnel rushed in amid the crowd with horns blaring at around 10.30 pm.
This infuriated the grieving people and they surrounded the two CRPF vehicles resulting in a tense standoff.
After some time, CRPF and State Police drove away the crowd by firing multiple rounds of tear gas shells.
The security forces thus drove away the crowd from inside the hospital complex to beyond its complex.
On the other hand, patients and patient parties expressed strong disapproval and indignation against the unleashing of brute force within the hospital complex.
The use of brute force by security forces created tension and anxiety among many patients. This could have caused tragic consequences, said some patient parties.
In the meantime, a large number of security forces and vehicles including two ambulances carrying the mortal remains of the six dead hostages were seen lined up in front of RIMS gate at around 11 pm.
The convoy carrying the mortal remains went past Mantripukhri through Thangmeiband Watham Leirak and Chingmeirong.
It was believed that the convoy drove away to buy some time considering the tense stand-off seen between security forces and a large crowd of people who came to receive the mortal remains at JNIMS.
At around 1.45 am, out of the large convoy of security forces, only the two ambulances carrying the mortal remains were allowed to proceed up to the JNIMS mortuary.
In the meantime, CRPF and police personnel took up strong security measures using barricades from JNIMS gate up to the lane leading to the mortuary.
Ahead of the arrival of the mortal remains, a team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) came to JNIMS but they did not say anything.
Speaking on behalf of the victims’ families, one Wiriangjinliu Chawang said, “We waited for a long extended period and endured unimaginable misery but the way the six hostages were tortured and put to death by mutilating their bodies is beyond comprehension”.
Asking how they will identify and claim the mortal remains, she said that they will not claim the mortal remains until their demands are fulfilled.
Citing a declaration made by the UNC on February 6, 2026 that Leilon Vaiphei village is a land of Nagas, Wiriangjinliu Chawang said that they will not claim the mortal remains until and unless the authorities give permission to bury them in Leilon Vaiphei.
Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur president Timothy Wijinamai said that no details have been shared with them including the place/spot where the dead bodies of the hostages were found.
He said that they will take a decision only after the dead bodies are identified.
He also denounced how security forces unleashed brute force and drove away grieving family members and relatives who came to receive the mortal remains.