Kuki militants robbed over Rs. 8,55,000, along with valuable personnel belongings from the 21 Tangkhul civilians

Special Correspondent
Ukhrul, March 13:
In a dramatic overnight operation, a combined team of State and Central security forces successfully rescued 21 Tangkhul Naga civilians who were abducted by armed Kuki militants from Shangkai village under Litan Police Station on Wednesday. The hostages, including elderly persons, women, and children, were freed in the early hours of Thursday after enduring nearly 24 hours of captivity.
The rescued civilians were safely brought back to Ukhrul with the coordinated assistance of the District Administration, Police, security forces, and Tangkhul Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). Family members and local leaders received the victims upon their arrival after what many described as a harrowing and life-threatening ordeal.
According to first-hand accounts, the hostages were taken hostage in broad daylight and later transported to different locations in separate vehicles by their captors. During their captivity, the victims were reportedly robbed of cash amounting to Rs. 8,55,000 along with valuable personal belongings, including jewellery, wristwatches, mobile phones, and important educational documents belonging to students.
The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) described the incident as deeply disturbing and a serious violation of human rights and the rule of law. The organisation stated that the brazen abduction highlights a worrying breakdown of law and order along National Highway-202A, where armed groups have allegedly begun operating with impunity.
Despite the tense situation, TNL expressed gratitude to the State Government, the elected representatives from the Naga community—including Naga MLAs and the Outer Manipur Member of Parliament—as well as the District Administration, Police, and security forces for their swift intervention and successful rescue operation.
However, the organisation also raised several questions regarding the events that unfolded during the search and rescue operation. According to TNL, security forces attempting to search for six allegedly stranded Kuki individuals were initially denied access by residents of Thawai Kuki village. This refusal reportedly delayed the rescue mission until the following morning.
“Why were the security forces prevented from carrying out their duty? What was the agenda behind refusing to cooperate with the rescue operation? Why was time deliberately bought before granting permission for the search?” the statement questioned.
Adding further complexity to the situation, the mortal remains of two Kuki men were reportedly discovered in a forested area on a hill overlooking Thawai Kuki village in neighbouring Kamjong district. Preliminary reports suggest that the two men may have been killed in crossfire during an armed confrontation between heavily armed militants guarding suspected poppy fields and neighbouring village volunteers engaged in anti-drug campaigns.
The TNL alleged that the incident once again exposes the growing nexus between armed Kuki groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and narco-terrorism activities in the region. The organisation claimed that such involvement in illegal poppy cultivation and drug trafficking has already been documented by various government agencies.
The organisation further warned that narco-terrorism is increasingly affecting not only the internal security of Manipur but also the broader geopolitical stability of the region. It urged both the State and Central Governments to take decisive action against such activities and ensure the safety of civilians living along vulnerable border areas.
The latest incident has sparked widespread concern among residents, with many calling for stronger security measures and firm government intervention to prevent such acts of violence and abduction in the future.