Hundreds gather in Taphou Kuki for sit-in and prayers as hostage standoff deepens; chief ministers push for simultaneous release amid highway blockades
Edited by: Lulun Haokip, Updated, June 9, 2026
Hundreds of Kuki civilians, predominantly women, formed human chains and held a prayer vigil during a sit-in protest in Taphou Kuki town, Kangpokpi district, on Monday. The demonstration demanded the immediate and safe release of 14 Kuki civilians held captive in Senapati district. Protesters sang hymns, prayed for peace, and carried placards urging authorities to end the crisis that has paralyzed the hill districts for weeks.
The protest was organized by Kuki civil society groups under the Kangpokpi Women Welfare Association and the Kangpokpi Town Committee. Organizers said the prayer-led action reflects both spiritual resolve and mounting frustration over the prolonged detention. Among the 14 detainees are three students reported to be minors. The group has been held by Naga groups since mid-May following retaliatory abductions.
In response, six Naga men allegedly abducted by Kuki armed groups remain missing. The hostage standoff traces back to the killing of three church leaders in Kangpokpi on May 13. That incident sparked a cycle of abductions and deepened distrust between Kuki and Naga communities. Both sides have tied any release to clarity on the missing persons.
Negotiations collapsed on June 1 after the United Naga Council called off a planned handover of the 14 Kuki detainees. The UNC cited opposition from a section of the Naga community. Naga civil society groups maintain that the fate of the six missing Naga men must be confirmed before the Kuki detainees are freed. The deadlock has halted mediation.
The chief ministers of Nagaland and Meghalaya have appealed for the simultaneous and safe release of all captives. Their joint call seeks to prevent further violence in the volatile hill districts. Community leaders warn that continued delays could trigger more abductions. Protesters in Taphou Kuki vowed to continue prayer vigils until all detainees return home.
The crisis has disrupted life across parts of Manipur’s hill region. Economic blockades and shutdowns on national highways have restricted movement and choked supply of essentials. Prices of food and fuel have surged in Kangpokpi and Senapati. Civil society groups say humanitarian conditions are worsening and have urged urgent intervention from state and central authorities.
