IMPHAL: Talks are underway between civil society organizations, representatives of the Manipur government and security forces to ensure the safe release of those still being held hostage by militant groups, officials said on Saturday.
31 of about 38 people belonging to the Kuki and Naga communities, who were held hostage by armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts, were released on Thursday and Friday.
These people were taken to undisclosed locations after suspected gunmen shot dead three church leaders and injured four others in Kangbukpi on Wednesday, while a civilian was shot dead and his wife injured in Noni area.
Police said every effort was being made to ensure the “safe release of the remaining persons.”
As a result of “coordinated efforts” by the administration, security forces, political leaders and civil society organizations, “most of the detained civilians, belonging to different sects, were released safely,” the police said in a statement.
“Talks are ongoing between civil society organizations, state government representatives, security forces and stakeholders in Naga and Kuki to ensure the safe release of those still being held hostage by armed groups,” an official said.
Another senior officer said that twelve women from Konsakul village, after being detained by armed men, were released in Makhan village.
Four men and ten women from the Kuki community, who were also detained in Senapati district, were handed over to security forces late Thursday night, he added.
“Armed groups released two Salesian brothers from Don Bosco, one of them from Nagaland, in two separate locations,” the officer said.
On Thursday evening, three people, including an 18-year-old woman, belonging to the Kuki community, were handed over to police teams in Senapati district, another officer said.
Manipur Home Minister Govindas Kunthujam said on Thursday that the government is in active discussions with civil society groups and political leaders to ensure the release of these people.
This article was generated from an automated news feed without any modifications to the text.
