Edited by St. Ginth Haokip, Kukiland Express Desk
Chandel, May 17, 2026
The Village Volunteer Eastern Zone (VVEZ) has issued a statement demanding the immediate, unconditional, and safe release of all hostages, warning that the current situation could degenerate into an irreversible security crisis if not resolved. The press release, Ref. No. VVEZ-PR/045/05-26 dated 16th May, 2026, was issued by the Information & Publicity wing of VVEZ.
VVEZ stated that the 14 Kuki civilians and 6 Naga civilians presently held in captivity bear no connection to what it termed the “barbaric, cold-blooded assassination” of revered church leaders. The organisation said the perpetrators responsible for the killings must be relentlessly pursued, brought to justice, and subjected to the severest course of law, adding that such acts are indefensible and will not be tolerated.
In its statement, VVEZ further appealed to the Naga tribes to remain vigilant and reject what it called divisive machinations and calculated propaganda propagated by Tangkhul Civil Society Organizations and the Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM/Eastern Flank. It clarified that the Kuki community harbors no hostility toward the Naga tribes and has no desire to foment discord.
The organisation said its political demand for a Separate Administration submitted to the Government of India is distinct from and unrelated to the Naga tribes. VVEZ stated that the demand arises solely because peaceful coexistence with the Meitei community under a single administrative framework has become untenable.
VVEZ also urged the Chandel Naga Peoples’ Organisation (CNPO) to refrain from issuing what it described as prejudiced, one-sided press statements that risk inflaming ground tensions. It noted that hostages have been taken by both sides and said absolute fairness dictates that the actions of all involved parties be equally and unequivocally condemned without partisan bias.
The statement alleged that the deliberate attempt to sow enmity between the Kuki and Naga tribes is a calculated agenda orchestrated by elements within both the Meitei and Tangkhul communities. VVEZ called upon all responsible citizens to reject these divisive conspiracies and preserve mutual respect between communities.
Issuing a final warning, VVEZ stated that if the issue escalates further and compromises the safety of the Kuki community in Chandel, Tengnoupal, or Kamjong districts, it will exhaust every available recourse to protect its people. The organisation added that should this threshold be crossed, the responsibility for the ensuing fallout will rest entirely upon the aggressors, and no culpability whatsoever shall be attributed to the VVEZ.
