GUWAHATI: Suspected militants waylaid at least three vehicles passing by two tribal villages along Manipur’s Ukhrul-Imphal Road Wednesday and abducted 20 Naga men, women and children at gunpoint, potentially igniting a fresh ethnic firestorm in a state already scarred by the Meitei-Kuki conflict. Ukhrul-headquartered organisation Tangkhul Naga Long alleged mass abduction was handiwork of Kuki militants, calling it a “pre-planned act of violence targeting the Nagas” and demanding state and central govts rescue them “within two hours or face the consequences”.Manipur CM: Release all civilians unconditionallyManipur’s new CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who took up office on Feb 4, put out an appeal as the security establishment scurried to make sense of the abductions from near Mongkot Chephu and Shangkai, both Kuki villages.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran says it targeted Israeli military intelligence & naval base; fresh explosions heard in DubaiMiddle Easat crisis: MEA condemns attack on India-bound Thai ship; remarks innocent lives lost in conflict ‘unacceptable”Legitimate targets’: Iran issues warning to US tech firms including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia”Deeply concerned by reports of civilians being held captive along the Ukhrul-Imphal road. I strongly urge those responsible to immediately release all civilians safely and unconditionally,” Khemchand said in a statement released on social media. “Senior officials have been directed to act urgently. I appeal to all CSOs (civil society organisations) and stakeholders to help maintain peace”.No militant outfit had owned responsibility for the abductions till late Wednesday. A statement by the Shangkai Village Authority, representing residents of a Kuki settlement in Ukhrul, suggested that Tangkhul Naga “volunteers” started the confrontation but did not mention the abductions. It accused them of opening fire on farmers in the fields of Thowai Kuki village, “detaining” several Kukis and setting ablaze huts. In another area, two workers repairing a water pipe were reported missing after being shot at by suspected Tangkhul assailants, the village authority said. A third villager with a bullet injury to his leg has been hospitalised.”In the light of these developments, locals blocked vehicles along Ukhrul Road, demanding the immediate release of the missing persons,” the village authority said.About the AuthorPrabin KalitaPrabin Kalita is a journalist at The Times of India and is currently the Chief of Bureau (northeast). He has been reporting in mainstream Indian national media since 2001. He has been a field journalist reporting gamut of issues from India’s northeastern region and major developments in neighbouring countries like Myanmar, China, Bhutan and Bangladesh concerning India and northeastern region. He has been covering insurgency—internal and cross-border, politics, natural calamities, environment etc. He is a post-graduate in Geological Sciences from Gauhati University.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNo LPG Shortage: Govt Unveils Plan To Prioritise Homes, Hospitals, SchoolsPreparing Against Joint China & Pakistan Threat, India Buys More Weapons Than Any Nation : Report‘Parliament Is Not A Party Office’: TMC’s Sayani Ghosh Targets Modi Govt During Speaker Trust MotionLok Sabha Drama Ends With Voice Vote Defeating Opposition Move Against Speaker Om BirlaFirst Group Of Indian Students In Iran To Head Towards Armenia Border Amid Security Concerns‘FOMO Gandhi’: BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s Viral Dig At Rahul Gandhi, Calls Him ‘Leader Of Propaganda”Speaker Above Party Lines’: Amit Shah Attacks Congress Over Rare Lok Sabha No Confidence MotionLearning from Iran, Indian Army Conducts Live Firing Drill Against Drone Swarms At PokhranPM Modi Assures Safety Of Indians Amid West Asia War, Slams Cong-Left For ‘Creating Panic’Historic Ruling: After 13 Years In Coma, Supreme Court Allows Passive Euthanasia For Harish Rana123PhotostoriesDevoleena Bhattacharjee gets emotional recalling caring for her mother during schizophrenia attacks from the age of 11; says brother’s death led to a phase of depressionA red Chanderi saree, royal bandhgala and Mumbai sunset: Pictures from Kritika Kamra-Gaurav Kapur’s intimate Bandra home weddingMahesh Babu-Namrata Shirodkar: Love story born on ‘Vamsi’ sets, sealed in private vowsHardik Pandya to Abhishek Sharma: Indian players flash diamond studs and chains during T20 World Cup 2026 triumph5 key features that make cruiser bikes comfortable for highway ridingHow to make South Indian Curd Rice for dinner to keep the stomach coolThe ‘3-hour dinner rule’: Doctors say this simple change could improve heart health and longevityIs collecting airline miles still worth it? 5 things travellers should know7 birds that use Earth’s magnetic field to travel the globeSilent bone loss can begin after 30 in women: Doctors explain why it happens and the simple steps that can help keep bones strong123Hot PicksStrait of Hormuz naval minesChina Yj-12 missileUCC gender biasCovid vaccine compensation policyIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingIran War Impact on IndiaIPL Teams Match ScheduleGold Price PredictionMumbai TemperatureSouth Asia Country Diesel and Petrol PriceUS Iran War ImpactUAE F-16Brain dead womenBombay high courtMiddle East War
GUWAHATI: Suspected militants waylaid at least three vehicles passing by two tribal villages along Manipur’s Ukhrul-Imphal Road Wednesday and abducted 20 Naga men, women and children at gunpoint, potentially igniting a fresh ethnic firestorm in a state already scarred by the Meitei-Kuki conflict. Ukhrul-headquartered organisation Tangkhul Naga Long alleged mass abduction was handiwork of Kuki militants, calling it a “pre-planned act of violence targeting the Nagas” and demanding state and central govts rescue them “within two hours or face the consequences”.
Manipur CM: Release all civilians unconditionally
Manipur’s new CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who took up office on Feb 4, put out an appeal as the security establishment scurried to make sense of the abductions from near Mongkot Chephu and Shangkai, both Kuki villages.“Deeply concerned by reports of civilians being held captive along the Ukhrul-Imphal road. I strongly urge those responsible to immediately release all civilians safely and unconditionally,” Khemchand said in a statement released on social media. “Senior officials have been directed to act urgently. I appeal to all CSOs (civil society organisations) and stakeholders to help maintain peace”.No militant outfit had owned responsibility for the abductions till late Wednesday. A statement by the Shangkai Village Authority, representing residents of a Kuki settlement in Ukhrul, suggested that Tangkhul Naga “volunteers” started the confrontation but did not mention the abductions. It accused them of opening fire on farmers in the fields of Thowai Kuki village, “detaining” several Kukis and setting ablaze huts. In another area, two workers repairing a water pipe were reported missing after being shot at by suspected Tangkhul assailants, the village authority said. A third villager with a bullet injury to his leg has been hospitalised.“In the light of these developments, locals blocked vehicles along Ukhrul Road, demanding the immediate release of the missing persons,” the village authority said.
