By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Hundreds of people from the Naga community, along with several Meitei supporters, took out a protest march in Imphal on Monday, pressing for the safe release of six civilians allegedly abducted by suspected Kuki militants.
The demonstration, organised by the Naga People’s Union Imphal, started from the Tribal Market area in Imphal East and moved towards the residence of Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh. However, security personnel blocked the march near Palace Gate, a short distance from the chief minister’s bungalow.
Despite the restrictions, representatives of the union were permitted to meet the chief minister and hand over a memorandum seeking urgent intervention in the kidnapping case involving six Naga men.
The memorandum accused armed Kuki militants of carrying out the abductions and also demanded the dismissal of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen. Protesters alleged that her husband leads the Kuki National Front (Presidential), a militant outfit they claim was linked to the incident.
The group further called for scrapping the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement signed among the Centre, the Manipur government and Kuki insurgent groups. They also sought the deportation of what they described as “Kuki refugees”.
As the rally progressed, protesters shouted slogans demanding the unconditional release of the missing Nagas and the repeal of the SoO pact. Placards criticising Nemcha Kipgen were also displayed during the protest.
The agitation follows the May 13 abduction of over 38 people in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts, which occurred shortly after three church leaders were killed in an ambush in Kangpokpi. Authorities have since secured the release of 32 individuals, including Naga women and members of the Kuki community, but six Naga men are still unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, Kuki Inpi Manipur has alleged that 14 Kukis continue to remain in the custody of Naga groups.
Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh said security agencies are actively working to trace the missing persons and that discussions have been held with multiple groups in an attempt to resolve the crisis.
“We have conducted operations and held several rounds of talks regarding the missing persons,” Singh said.
Speaking about his tenure in Manipur after being appointed secretary (security) in the cabinet secretariat, Singh described the state as a challenging place to work but noted that the overall law and order situation has improved with coordinated efforts by the police and security forces.