“No release without our six brothers”: Naga youth warns, hold UNC accountable for fate of missing hostages

Special Correspondent
Ukhrul, June 2:
In one of the strongest statements issued since the abduction of six Naga civilians during the ongoing crisis in Manipur, Khanuithot-Khon, Voice of the Naga Youth, has launched a blistering attack against any move to release detained Kuki individuals without first securing verifiable proof of life and the safe return of the missing Nagas.
In a statement, the youth body expressed deep anger and concern over reports that the remaining detainees are being released despite the continued uncertainty surrounding the fate of six abducted Naga civilians, including respected church leaders Rev. Dr. Manu Thiumai and Pastor Kenpibou.
The organization stated that despite repeated appeals, public protests, and sustained pressure from Naga civil society groups, no credible information has emerged regarding the whereabouts, condition, or safety of the six missing men.
“At a time when there is no publicly verified proof of life and no satisfactory explanation regarding their whereabouts, releasing detainees without securing concrete assurances amounts to a betrayal of the six missing Nagas,” the statement asserted.
Khanuithot-Khon questioned the basis of any arrangement that permits unconditional releases while fundamental questions remain unanswered. It asked what guarantees exist that the abducted civilians are alive, what evidence has been received regarding their condition, what mechanisms are in place to ensure their return, and what contingency measures have been prepared should they fail to come back.
Describing the situation as a matter of justice rather than political convenience, the youth body warned that entering into what it termed a “lopsided and unconditional arrangement” could permanently weaken the Naga community’s position in demanding accountability and truth.
In a direct warning to the leadership of the United Naga Council (UNC), the organization stated that any adverse consequences arising from decisions taken without transparency, safeguards, or public accountability would rest squarely on those who authorized or facilitated such decisions.
The statement emphasized that the Naga public has an absolute right to know the details of any negotiations or agreements concerning the missing civilians and insisted that no process should move forward in secrecy while families continue to suffer in uncertainty.
Beyond the hostage issue, Khanuithot-Khon also called for a clear separation between civil leadership and operational security matters. It argued that civil society organizations, including tribal and regional bodies, are mandated to represent and administer public affairs, not to command village guards, volunteer units, or armed groups.
The organization warned that concentrating civil authority and frontline operational responsibilities in the same hands creates conflicts of interest, weakens accountability, and erodes public confidence in institutions entrusted with safeguarding community welfare.
Reaffirming its position, the youth body issued an ultimatum demanding that the UNC immediately halt any further implementation of what it described as an unconditional release process until verifiable proof of life of the six hostages is produced and a reciprocal, simultaneous exchange is guaranteed.
Khanuithot-Khon further called upon sub-zonal organizations, student bodies, and Naga youth across the region to remain united, resist decisions perceived to undermine regional security, and demand leadership that is transparent, independent, and committed to securing justice.
“The blood of our brothers and the tears of their families cannot be treated as a political footnote,” the statement declared, adding that the Naga youth would continue to monitor developments closely and would not allow the pursuit of justice for the six missing civilians to be abandoned before their fate is fully accounted for.
The statement was issued by the Information and Media Cell of Khanuithot-Khon, Voice of the Naga Youth.