Guwahati: Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex body of the Kuki tribes, has extended the ongoing total shutdown by an additional 48 hours from midnight of May 15, 2026, stating that 14 Kuki individuals continue to remain under “illegal detention and unlawful custody” despite the release of another 14 hostages.
In a statement issued on Friday, the organisation said it acknowledged the release of the 14 Kuki hostages following its “final ultimatum” issued on May 14. However, it alleged that another 14 Kuki civilians are still being held captive, prompting the decision to prolong the shutdown.
Kuki Inpi Manipur described the alleged abduction, illegal detention, and hostage-taking of civilians as “barbaric acts of terror” and “a direct assault on human dignity, democratic values, and the rule of law.”
“The Government and concerned authorities must act decisively and without delay to ensure the safe, unconditional, and immediate release of all remaining hostages,” the statement said.
The organisation warned that any failure to address the situation decisively would “embolden lawlessness” and further threaten peace and stability in the region.
It also asserted that while the organisation remains committed to acting responsibly and prioritising the safety of the detainees, such restraint “must never be misconstrued as weakness.”
“The Kuki people have endured relentless persecution, intimidation, and targeted violence with immense patience and discipline. However, the dignity, security, and lives of our people are non-negotiable,” the statement added.
Kuki Inpi Manipur has appealed to all district civil society organisations and Kuki-Zo frontal organisations to intensify “democratic and constitutional” protests against the alleged illegal detention of Kuki civilians.
As part of the protest programme, a sit-in demonstration will be organised on Saturday under the aegis of Committee on Tribal Unity at Motbung in Kangpokpi District, while a mass rally will be held in Churachandpur District.
The organisation said similar democratic protests and public demonstrations would also be carried out across other Kuki-Zo-dominated districts to demand the “immediate, safe, and unconditional release” of the remaining detainees.
Kuki Inpi Manipur said it would continue to closely monitor the situation and hold the authorities “morally and administratively accountable” for ensuring the safety and release of all those still in custody.
Fresh violence broke out in Manipur on Wednesday after unidentified assailants ambushed vehicles carrying church leaders returning to Kangpokpi District from a meeting in Churachandpur District, killing three people and injuring five others.