“Don’t Test Our Patience”: Naga women rise across Manipur as six civilians remain in captivity

A wave of anger, fear and growing public outrage swept across Manipur on Wednesday as thousands of Naga women staged coordinated protests in multiple districts demanding the immediate and unconditional release of six abducted Naga civilians allegedly held captive by suspected Kuki militants since May 13.
From Kanglatongbi in Imphal West to Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong, Ukhrul, Kamjong, Noney and even parts of Churachandpur district, women poured onto the streets carrying banners, shouting slogans and accusing the government of failing to act decisively despite repeated appeals from civil society organisations and affected families.
At Kanglatongbi Bazar under Sekmai Police Station in Imphal West district, nearly 200 women from the Liangmai Naga community, along with Meetei and Nepali residents of Kanglatongbi and Namdilong, staged a sit-in protest under the banner of the Koubru Range Liangmai Women’s Union.
The protesters displayed a large banner reading, “Innocent Naga Civilians in Hostage of Kuki Armed Militants,” alongside another demanding the “immediate and unconditional release” of the six civilians allegedly abducted at Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district on May 13.
Placards and slogans reflected mounting frustration and emotional exhaustion among civilians living amid the prolonged ethnic violence. Demonstrators shouted, “We stand for peace and justice,” “Human lives are not bargaining chips,” “Bring our people home alive,” “We demand safe release immediately,” and “Don’t test our patience.”
The protests were not confined to one locality. At Tribal Market in New Checkon, Imphal East, another demonstration was organised under the aegis of the Naga Women Union, drawing a large turnout of women and community leaders demanding urgent state intervention.
Across the protest sites, a recurring question echoed among demonstrators: why have the authorities failed to rescue the six men nearly a week after the alleged abduction?
Speaking during the protest, Houreilu Kamei openly accused the government of failing to show urgency in securing the release of the abducted civilians.
“We are not satisfied with the government and how they are handling the release of the six abducted Naga men despite repeated appeals,” she said.
She further alleged that the authorities were “not being proactive” and described the lack of urgency surrounding the case as “very unfortunate.”
Calling the prevailing situation in Manipur a “dark and melancholic phase,” Kamei said the continued violence, abductions and fear among civilians had dangerously become “the new normal” in the state. She stressed that the crisis must be addressed politically through meaningful dialogue before further damage is done to inter-community relations.
Another protester questioned the role and effectiveness of the central security forces deployed in the conflict-hit region.
“The Naga men were picked up from a Kuki area by Kuki people. Why can’t the security forces directly interrogate residents of Leilon Vaiphei village as part of efforts to secure the release of the abducted civilians?” she asked.
The protester warned that prolonged delays in rescuing the hostages could further inflame tensions and place the lives of the abducted men in greater danger.
According to local accounts, the abduction incident reportedly occurred in the aftermath of a deadly ambush at Kotlen in Kangpokpi district on May 13 in which three Thadou church leaders were killed. Sources claimed that around 20 Naga individuals were initially abducted following the violence, of whom 14 were later released, while six remain unaccounted for.
At Khoupum, public anger intensified as the Rongmei women’s organisation, Rongmei Luh Phwam (RLP), staged another sit-in protest demanding the immediate and safe release of the six civilians.
In a strongly worded statement, the organisation condemned the alleged abduction as “inhuman” and accused Kuki militants of abducting the six civilians from Konsakhul village on May 13.
The abducted men were identified as Dr. Rev. Manu Thiumai, Kenpibou Chawang, Dilip Thiumai, Kaliwangbou Abonmai, Phenrongwibou Thiumai and Ch. Phenrilungbou.
The women’s body stated that mothers and wives of the abducted men were living through unbearable uncertainty and trauma while authorities continued to remain ineffective in securing their release.
“The mothers and womenfolk stand firmly with the affected families during this painful time,” the statement said, while appealing for the immediate release of the six civilians without harm.
The organisation further warned that such incidents of abduction and violence pose a serious threat to communal harmony and deepen fear among innocent civilians already traumatised by months of unrest.
Meanwhile, in Chandel district headquarters, hundreds of Naga women representing all nine Naga tribes under the Naga Women Union, Chandel, staged another powerful sit-in protest demanding not only the release of the six hostages but also justice for the killing of Wilson Thanga Chiru, who was reportedly killed on May 13.
The protest, led by Tonila Pashel, vice-president of Anal Sinnu Ruwl, brought together representatives from the Anal, Monsang, Moyon, Maring, Lamkang, Chothe, Khoibu and Tarao communities.
Addressing the gathering, Tonila Pashel said the fate of the six abducted civilians remained unknown even after several days, intensifying fear and anxiety among the Naga community.
“The six innocent Naga civilians were abducted on May 13, and Wilson Thanga Chiru was killed on the same day. Till today nobody knows where the six civilians are or what condition they are in,” she said.
As protests spread across the hill districts and valley areas alike, the coordinated demonstrations signalled a growing consolidation of public anger against continued civilian targeting amid the ethnic conflict in Manipur. With women leading the agitation across districts, pressure is mounting on both the state and central governments to act swiftly before the crisis spirals into another flashpoint in the already volatile state.