Six Naga Men Found Dead in Manipur, Prompting Shutdown

The bodies of six Naga men abducted in May have been recovered in Manipur, India, shattering a brief period of calm and reigniting ethnic tensions in the violence-wracked state. The remains were found on Wednesday, June 10, in Kangpokpi district after a 24-hour search operation involving approximately 450 personnel from the Manipur Police, Central Reserve Police Force, and Assam Rifles.

The victims, identified as Kenpibou Chawang, Manu Thiumai, Phenrongwibo Thiumai, Dilip Thiumai, Kaliwangbou Abonmai, and Ch. Phenrilung, were residents of Konsakhul Naga village. Two were pastors. They were among a group of civilians allegedly abducted by suspected Kuki militants from Leilon Vaiphei on May 13. Their discovery came just one day after Naga groups released 14 Kuki hostages, a reciprocal gesture that had briefly raised hopes for de-escalation.

The recovery has provoked widespread grief and anger within the Naga community. Hundreds gathered outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal East, where the bodies were taken for postmortem examination. Security forces were deployed in large numbers around the hospital to maintain order. In response, the apex Naga...