20 Civilians Held Hostage In Manipur’s Ukhrul Released

Guwahati: 20 civilians who were taken hostage by the Kuki armed group in Shangkai village of Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Wednesday were released on Thursday morning.

Security sources said that the passengers detained at Ukhrul were rescued and handed over to Tangkhul non-governmental organizations at Litan Police Station around 04:00 in the morning. After their release, they began their journey back to Ukhrul.

New tensions arose in parts of the Ukhrul region on Wednesday after approximately 20 civilians were taken hostage by an armed group.

Following the incident, the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex body of the Tangkhul community, had sought the immediate intervention of the Manipur chief minister for the safe release of civilians allegedly held captive at Shangkai along the Ukhrul-Imphal road on Wednesday.

Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand also expressed concern over the incident on Wednesday. He assured the families of the victims and the public that the government is taking the matter seriously and will take all necessary steps to catch the criminals involved in such a dastardly act.

Meanwhile, security sources said that the state government has taken notice of the incident and necessary steps have been taken to ensure safe and smooth movement on highways in the state. Security sources stated that the Kuki armed group was also involved in the incident.