Manipur hostage crisis: Joint ops enter Day 8 in Kangpokpi and Senapati
Synopsis
Eight days after three Baptist church leaders were killed in Kangpokpi, Manipur's security forces are still combing hill villages for hostages taken in the ethnic backlash. Thirty of more than 40 captives have been freed — but the rest remain missing, and a rare multi-faith church delegation is now working the diplomatic track alongside the CRPF.
Key Takeaways
Joint Manipur State Police and CRPF operations entered their eighth consecutive day on Wednesday, 20 May in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts.
More than 40 people from Kuki and Naga communities were taken hostage after three Baptist church leaders were killed on 13 May .
30 hostages were released on 14 and 15 May following efforts by authorities and civil society; the rest remain missing.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh appealed for calm and assured Naga community leaders of intensive rescue operations.
A ten-member church delegation representing MBC , CBCNEI , APBF , and BWA has called for the unconditional release of all remaining hostages on humanitarian grounds.
Central and state security forces on Wednesday pressed ahead with joint search operations across Manipur's Kangpokpi and Senapati districts for the eighth consecutive day, working to rescue villagers still held hostage by armed groups following the killing of three Baptist church leaders on 13 May. Officials confirmed that combing operations remain active across multiple hill ranges as the ethnic standoff between Kuki and Naga communities continues.
Areas Under Active Search
According to a senior police official, intensive combing operations are focused on the hill ranges surrounding Leilon Vaiphei village, Songtun village, Khunkho village, and P. Molding village in Kangpokpi district. Manipur State Police Commandos and personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are jointly conducting the operations across both districts.
Background: What Triggered the Crisis
The hostage situation erupted after three Baptist church leaders were killed and four others injured in Kangpokpi district on 13 May. In the aftermath, armed groups took more than 40 people from the Kuki and Naga communities hostage across Kangpokpi and Senapati districts. Following sustained pressure from authorities, community leaders, and civil society organisations, 30 of the hostages were released on 14 and 15 May. The remaining individuals are still unaccounted for.
What the Chief Minister Said
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh briefed a delegation of Naga community leaders, assuring them that state police and CRPF are conducting intensive operations in suspected areas. He appealed for calm, urging all communities to renounce violence and cooperate with the government. 'The state government is making all-out efforts to defuse the tense situation and restore peace in the hill areas,' the Chief Minister said, according to officials.
Church Leaders Step In
A ten-member delegation of church leaders, which began visiting Senapati district on Tuesday, met representatives of the United Naga Council (UNC), the Naga People's Organisation (NPO), and other civil society bodies at the UNC office. The delegation — comprising leaders from the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC), the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI), the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF), and the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) — had earlier met Chief Minister Singh on Monday to discuss the ethnic crisis. Following their Senapati visit, the church leaders issued a strong appeal for the unconditional release of all remaining hostages on humanitarian grounds.
What Comes Next
The dual-track effort — security operations on the ground and community-level mediation through church and civil society channels — reflects the complexity of the crisis. Notably, this is not the first time inter-tribal tensions between Naga and Kuki communities have escalated in Manipur's hill districts, making durable de-escalation dependent on political as much as security outcomes. All eyes are now on whether the church leaders' appeal and continued operations can secure the release of those still held captive.
Point of View
Figures who typically serve as de-escalatory anchors in tribal societies, signals an alarming erosion of traditional conflict buffers. The fact that a multi-denominational church delegation had to be mobilised at the national and international level — involving the Baptist World Alliance — underscores how far local trust mechanisms have broken down. Security operations alone will not hold: without a political roadmap that addresses territorial grievances and community security fears, the next trigger is only a provocation away.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the Manipur hostage crisis in May 2025?
The crisis began on 13 May when three Baptist church leaders were killed and four others injured in Kangpokpi district. Armed groups subsequently took more than 40 people from the Kuki and Naga communities hostage across Kangpokpi and Senapati districts.
How many hostages have been released so far?
30 of the more than 40 hostages were released on 14 and 15 May, following efforts by government authorities, community leaders, and civil society organisations. The remaining individuals were still being searched for as of 20 May.
Which security forces are conducting the rescue operations?
Manipur State Police Commandos and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel are jointly conducting combing and search operations across Kangpokpi and Senapati districts, focusing on hill ranges around several villages including Leilon Vaiphei, Songtun, Khunkho, and P. Molding.
What role are church leaders playing in the crisis?
A ten-member delegation of church leaders representing the Manipur Baptist Convention, the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India, the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, and the Baptist World Alliance has been visiting Senapati district since Tuesday. They met Naga civil society groups and have appealed for the unconditional release of all remaining hostages on humanitarian grounds.
What has Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said about the situation?
Chief Minister Singh briefed Naga community leaders and assured them that intensive operations are underway in suspected areas. He appealed to all communities to shun violence and cooperate with the government to restore peace and normalcy in the hill areas.
