United Naga Council confirms six abducted Naga men are dead, nearly a month after hostage crisis in Manipur's Kangpokpi district
Share
DIMAPUR — United Naga Council (UNC) president Ng Lorho on Wednesday confirmed to Eastern Mirror the deaths of six Naga men who were abducted on May 13 in Manipur.
The confirmation comes nearly a month after the six men were taken captive and amid repeated appeals by Naga organisations and political leaders for their safe release.
Lorho said that no further details could be provided or confirmed at present as the bodies of the six men had yet to reach the Manipur capital.
The six men were abducted during a hostage crisis that followed the killing of three church leaders in an ambush in Kangpokpi district. On June 9, 14 Kuki individuals linked to the same incident were released in Senapati district.
Also read: Manipur: Mortal remains of six people found, suspected to be of missing Nagas
Rio welcomes release of 14 Kuki hostages, appeals for safe return of six Naga men
Calling the deaths of the six men unfortunate, Lorho said that there had been expectations that they would be released safely following the release of the 14 Kuki individuals.
According to Lorho, the release of the 14 Kuki individuals was facilitated by the UNC, the apex body of the Naga community in Manipur, along with civil society organisations based in Senapati district.
He said that the decision to facilitate their release was guided by Naga cultural values and Christian principles and that a similar humanitarian response had been expected for the six abducted men.
"It is very unfortunate that this was how they reciprocated to our faith," Lorho said.
Earlier, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had appealed for the safe release of the six men in a reciprocal and humanitarian manner.
No further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the six men were available at the time of filing this report.