Naga Apex Body Cancels Release Of 14 Kuki Civilians Amid Rising Tensions In Manipur

The apex body of Naga tribes in Manipur , the United Naga Council (UNC), on Monday cancelled the scheduled release of 14 Kuki civilians , citing disagreements with youth leaders and concerns raised by stakeholders within the community, further underscoring the fragile situation in the violence-hit state.

According to a statement issued by the UNC, the proposed release, earlier scheduled for 2 pm on June 1, was called off after taking into account the “prevailing sentiments of the Naga public” . The 14 Kuki civilians had been detained on May 13 and were expected to be released before being taken to Kangpokpi district for a reception programme.

The decision triggered fresh tension, as several Naga youth groups and civil society organisations objected, alleging that the move had been taken without adequate consultation with stakeholders in Naga-majority areas . Multiple meetings were held in Senapati, where community representatives raised concerns over the unresolved fate of six Naga youths allegedly abducted by Kuki armed groups .

Leaders argued that the whereabouts and condition of the missing Naga civilians must be clarified before any release of Kuki detainees, reflecting a deeply entrenched cycle of reciprocity and mistrust between the communities.

Earlier, the UNC had stated that it had intervened for the release in coordination with the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), following appeals from churches, tribal bodies, and assurances linked to ongoing peace measures, including the Suspension of Operations (SoO) framework and commitments by authorities to trace abducted civilians and enforce ground rules.

However, the latest development highlights the continuing trust deficit between communities , where even negotiated humanitarian steps are vulnerable to reversal due to local opposition and competing grievances.

The situation in Manipur reflects broader challenges to peace-building and reconciliation efforts . Deep-rooted mutual insecurity , lack of a trusted neutral mechanism for dispute resolution , and fragmented decision-making within communities have made sustained dialogue difficult.

Moreover, the absence of verified information on missing persons and alleged hostages continues to fuel suspicion and retaliatory attitudes, weakening attempts at confidence-building. These overlapping tensions show how reconciliation in Manipur remains a fragile and incomplete process , heavily dependent on resolving unresolved abduction cases and rebuilding inter-community trust.