The National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) on Thursday, 11 June urged the Centre to take urgent and decisive action against Kuki militant groups operating in Manipur, days after the recovery of six mutilated Naga bodies from a forested area in Kangpokpi district. The demand intensifies pressure on the Union government as ethnic violence in the state shows no signs of abating.

The Body Recovery That Triggered the Demand

The six victims were recovered from a forested area near Kharam Vaiphei village, a predominantly Kuki-Zo tribal settlement in the Saitu-Gamphazol sub-division of Kangpokpi district. According to reports, the individuals had been abducted by armed groups belonging to different tribal communities on 13 May in Kangpokpi district. Their bodies were found mutilated, prompting sharp condemnation from the Naga organisation.

What NSCN-IM Said

In a strongly worded statement, the NSCN-IM described the killings as 'heinous atrocities that constitute blatant crimes against humanity and a savage violation of human dignity.' The organisation specifically named the Kuki Village Volunteers as a frontal organisation of what it termed 'Kuki terrorist gangs.'

'Even in times of conflict, universal moral norms demand absolute respect for the deceased. The deliberate desecration of human bodies serves no purpose other than to spread terror, weaponise fear, and inflict deep psychological trauma on grieving families and communities,' the organisation said.

The NSCN-IM further alleged that security forces have failed to prevent attacks by Kuki militant groups, while simultaneously cracking down on Naga protesters, student activists, and village guards. It accused security forces of 'facilitating the brutal killing of Naga people by Kuki militant groups,' which it claimed are 'widely perceived as their proxies' — an allegation that has not been independently verified.

Hostage Crisis: The Broader Context

The discovery of the six bodies came just a day after 14 Kuki hostages were released on Tuesday, 10 June, following nearly four weeks in captivity. According to police officials, the 14 Kuki villagers were handed over at a police station in Senapati district by the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Naga People's Organisation (NPO).

At least 50 people from both the Kuki and Naga communities were allegedly held hostage by different armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts following violent incidents on 13 May, during which three church leaders were killed and four others were injured in Kangpokpi district. Around 30 individuals from both communities were released on 14 and 15 May through sustained efforts by authorities, community leaders, and civil society organisations.

Ongoing Protests and Unresolved Tensions

Since the 13 May violence, organisations representing both the Naga and Kuki communities have staged sustained protests demanding the safe release of all remaining abducted persons. The recovery of the six Naga bodies has sharply escalated those demands into calls for direct Central intervention. This comes amid an already fragile security environment in Manipur, where ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities have persisted since May 2023, with multiple armed groups operating across the state's hill districts.

The Centre has yet to formally respond to the NSCN-IM's latest demand. All eyes are now on whether the Union government will take visible action — or whether the silence will deepen the distrust between hill communities and New Delhi.