Two persons who were reportedly abducted were found dead on Thursday, hours after 21 civilians who had been held captive along the Imphal–Ukhrul route were safely released. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh informed the ongoing seventh session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly that the case will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for further investigation.
The statement was made during the ongoing budget session of the Assembly in Imphal while responding to a calling attention motion moved by Congress MLA Keisham Meghachandra regarding reports of a heavy exchange of gunfire at Thawai village and the abduction of civilians along the Imphal–Ukhrul road.
Responding to the motion, Manipur Home Minister K Govindas Konthoujam said a gunfight reportedly took place between two armed groups from around 6:30 am to 9 am on Wednesday at the Mapithel hill range in Ukhrul district. The incident reportedly occurred after two Kuki villagers were allegedly abducted by some armed groups.
During the exchange of fire, a civilian identified as Lalminthang Haokip, 40, sustained a minor bullet injury and was evacuated to a health centre in Kangpokpi district, the minister said.
He further informed the House that in retaliation, 21 Tangkhul Naga civilians travelling along the Imphal–Ukhrul road were abducted by members of the Kuki community at Shangkai village in Ukhrul district.
Govindas Konthoujam said Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh held a meeting with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday evening in connection with the incident. The Chief Minister later issued a statement calling for the safe, immediate and unconditional release of the civilians, warning that strict action would be taken against those involved in unlawful activities and urging all communities to shun violence.
With the intervention of the district administration and civil bodies from both communities, the 21 civilians were safely released at around 3 am on Thursday, the minister added.
Govindas Konthoujam told the Assembly that demands cannot be achieved through violence or by threatening others with firearms and called on all communities to resolve issues through dialogue and cooperation to restore peace in the state.
Meanwhile, officials confirmed that the two individuals who had earlier been abducted were found dead on Thursday morning at the Mapithel hill range in Ukhrul district. They were identified as Thengin Baite of Thawai Kuki village in Kamjong district and Thangboimang Khongsai of Shangkai village in Ukhrul district.
Supplementing the Home Minister’s statement, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said people across the 36 ethnic communities in Manipur must remember that before identifying as Meitei, Naga or Kuki, all residents of the state are Manipuris. He further informed the House that the case related to the abduction and killing of the two civilians will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency to identify and prosecute those responsible.