Manipur CM assured an NIA probe into the case of six missing Naga civilians, while the UNC said the highway blockade will continue until the issue is resolved.
Imphal, May 23: Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Friday assured leaders of the United Naga Council (UNC) that the case relating to the six missing Naga civilians allegedly detained in Kangpokpi district would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for investigation, even as the UNC declared that the ongoing economic blockade along National Highways would continue until the matter is fully resolved.
The assurance came during a meeting held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Imphal between UNC leaders and members of the Manipur government to discuss the prevailing law and order situation and the disappearance of the six civilians.
The six Naga civilians reportedly went missing on May 13 from the Leilon Waifei village area in Kangpokpi district following an ambush by unidentified armed men in which three Thadou church leaders were killed.
During the meeting, the UNC delegation urged the government to intensify search operations and ensure that the whereabouts of the missing civilians are traced at the earliest.
The UNC delegation included president N G Lorho, vice-president N Poujan Golmei, L Adani Mao, Samson Remmei, former UNC president K S Paul Leo and A C Thotso, member secretary of the Working Committee UNC.
Representing the government were Chief Minister Khemchand, Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam and several Naga MLAs.
According to sources, the chief minister informed the UNC delegation that the case concerning the six missing Naga civilians would be investigated by the NIA. He also said the killing of the three church leaders in the May 13 incident had already been handed over to the agency.
Khemchand further informed the delegation that intensive search and rescue operations have been underway since May 14 to locate the missing civilians.
The chief minister also appealed to the UNC to cooperate in ensuring the safe release of 14 Kuki civilians reportedly being detained. He additionally appealed to the Kuki community to assist authorities in tracing the six missing Nagas.
Calling for peace and stability, Khemchand urged all communities in the state to work together to restore normalcy amid continuing ethnic tensions.
However, despite the assurances, the UNC maintained that the ongoing inter-district economic blockade would remain in force until the issue is completely settled.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, UNC vice-president N Poujan Golmei said the blockade had been imposed in protest against the continued detention of the six Naga civilians by armed Kuki individuals.
He said the three-hour meeting focused on tracing the civilians at the earliest possible time and added that the blockade would not be lifted unless the matter between the two sides is fully resolved.
“The protection and security of innocent civilians is the duty of the government,” Golmei said, adding that the chief minister had assured the UNC that the six civilians would be traced “whether alive or dead” and handed over at the earliest.
Golmei further stated that the UNC had faith in the assurances given by the government and hoped that cooperation between the UNC and authorities would help bring stability and speed up efforts to trace the civilians.
The disappearance of the six civilians and the continuing blockade have added to tensions in Manipur, where ethnic unrest has persisted for the past two years.
