Twenty-eight civilians held hostage in Manipur were released safely after joint efforts by authorities and CSOs.
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IMPHAL — A total of 28 civilians held hostage amid ongoing tensions in Manipur were released safely in the early hours of Friday following coordinated efforts involving the administration, security forces, civil society organisations (CSOs), and community leaders, officials said.
According to a government statement issued on Friday, 14 individuals were released from each side between Kangpokpi and Senapati districts.
“As a result of the joint efforts of the administration, security forces, public leaders and CSOs, the majority of the detained civilians, 28 in numbers, belonging to different communities, have been safely released,” the statement read.
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The Senapati side released 14 individuals comprising both men and women. Similarly, 14 persons, including 12 women, were released from the Kuki side.
Among them were two persons associated with the Salesian Provincial Office in Dimapur who were reportedly detained in the Sapermeina area of Kangpokpi district.
One of the women released recounted the ordeal, alleging that the detainees were blindfolded and their hands tied separately from the male captives while being moved through different hilly locations during captivity.
However, the whereabouts of six male detainees from Konsakhul, reportedly held at Leilon village, remained unknown at the time of filing this report.
The whereabouts of some residents from Taphou and Hengbung, allegedly detained in Senapati district, were also yet to be ascertained.
Authorities said efforts were continuing to secure the release of the remaining detainees.
“The public is requested to cooperate with the administration and security forces in maintaining peace and ensuring the safe release of the remaining civilians,” the statement added.
The detention of civilians from different communities in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts followed the May 13 ambush on civilian vehicles by unidentified armed miscreants, which left three civilians dead and four others injured.
Meanwhile, the burial ceremony of the three deceased persons was held at Motbung in Kangpokpi district on Friday. Earlier, the last rites of another civilian victim had been conducted at Dolang in Noney district.