Manipur CM: 4 arrested in kidnapping of 6 Naga civilians, 20 still held
Synopsis
Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Naga civilians in Manipur, but 20 hostages remain missing. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited a relief camp in Kangpokpi — home to displaced women and children — as joint security operations stretch across multiple districts, underscoring how far the fallout from the 13 May violence continues to ripple.
Key Takeaways
Four suspects — Thangkhomang Khongsai , Seikholet Khongsai , Lunminthang Dimngel , and Kamgoulal Khongsai — were arrested on 25 May in connection with the kidnapping of six Naga civilians .
20 Naga and Kuki community members remain in captivity as of 28 May ; joint operations by Manipur Police , CRPF , and Assam Rifles are ongoing.
At least 50 people were allegedly held hostage following violence on 13 May that killed three church leaders and injured four others in Kangpokpi district.
Around 30 hostages were released on 14–15 May through efforts by authorities, community leaders, and civil society organisations.
CM Singh visited the Makhen Baptist Church relief camp in Kangpokpi, which currently shelters around 35 IDPs , and distributed essential relief materials.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Thursday, 28 May confirmed that four suspects believed to be involved in the kidnapping of six Naga civilians have been apprehended by security forces. Speaking during a visit to Makhan Naga Village in Kangpokpi District, the Chief Minister said the state government is treating the incident with the utmost seriousness, with intensive search and combing operations currently underway across multiple districts.
Key Developments in the Rescue Operation
The four arrested individuals were identified as Thangkhomang Khongsai (51), Seikholet Khongsai (40), Lunminthang Dimngel (27), and Kamgoulal Khongsai (30). According to officials, they were apprehended on 25 May during a joint operation by the Manipur Police, CRPF, and Assam Rifles from the area between the P. Molding and Leilon Vaiphei inter-village road in Kangpokpi district.
As of Thursday, 20 Naga and Kuki community members remain in captivity, with central and state security forces conducting extensive joint search operations across Kangpokpi, Senapati, and adjoining districts.
Background: The May 13 Violence
The hostage crisis stems from violent incidents on 13 May, in which three church leaders were killed and four others were injured in Kangpokpi district. In the aftermath, at least 50 people from the Kuki and Naga communities were allegedly held hostage by different armed groups operating in the Kuki-Zo inhabited Kangpokpi district and the Naga-dominated Senapati district, according to police officials.
Around 30 hostages from both communities were released on 14 and 15 May following sustained efforts by authorities, community leaders, and several civil society organisations (CSOs). The investigations to identify all culprits involved in the 13 May incidents are ongoing, the Chief Minister stated.
CM's Visit to Relief Camp
Chief Minister Singh visited the Makhen Baptist Church in Makhan Naga Village, which currently shelters around 35 inmates — primarily Naga women and children from Konsakhul Village who were among those recently taken hostage and subsequently released. Singh distributed relief materials including rice, dal, potatoes, onion, edible oil, sugar, tea leaves, and biscuits.
He also inspected the village community hall and discussed with the village chief and district officials the possibility of accommodating more Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The Chief Minister instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Kangpokpi, Mahesh Chaudhari, to ensure the supply of essential items including mattresses and mosquito nets. The village chief reportedly told Singh that many Nagas across Kangpokpi district had fled their villages out of fear.
Officials and Leaders Present
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, seven MLAs — Leishiyo Keishing, Awangbou Newmai, Heikham Dingo Singh, Janghemlung Panmei, Khashim Vashum, Ram Muivah, and J. Kumo Sha — along with Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar and Deputy Commissioner (Kangpokpi) Mahesh Chaudhari.
This comes amid an ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur that has displaced thousands since violence erupted in the state in May 2023. The Makhan Naga Village relief camp is one of several sheltering IDPs caught in the crossfire between armed groups representing different communities. With 20 hostages still unaccounted for, the pressure on security forces and the state administration to deliver results is mounting.
Point of View
But the fact that 20 hostages remain unaccounted for more than two weeks after the 13 May violence reveals the limits of that response. Manipur's ethnic conflict has now produced a hostage crisis layered on top of an IDP crisis — a compounding of failures that neither security operations nor relief distributions can fully address. The pattern is familiar: high-profile official visits, incremental arrests, and assurances of imminent rescue, while the underlying inter-community tensions that enable armed groups to operate with apparent impunity go unresolved. With church leaders among the killed and entire villages emptied by fear, the humanitarian dimension of this conflict is escalating even as political attention remains episodic.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the four suspects arrested in the Manipur Naga kidnapping case?
The four arrested individuals are Thangkhomang Khongsai (51), Seikholet Khongsai (40), Lunminthang Dimngel (27), and Kamgoulal Khongsai (30). They were apprehended on 25 May during a joint operation by the Manipur Police, CRPF, and Assam Rifles on the P. Molding–Leilon Vaiphei inter-village road in Kangpokpi district.
How many hostages are still missing in Manipur?
As of 28 May, 20 Naga and Kuki community members remain in captivity. Around 30 of the original 50-plus hostages were released on 14 and 15 May following efforts by authorities and civil society organisations.
What triggered the hostage crisis in Manipur?
The crisis stems from violent incidents on 13 May in Kangpokpi district, in which three church leaders were killed and four others were injured. Armed groups subsequently took at least 50 people from the Kuki and Naga communities hostage across Kangpokpi and Senapati districts, according to police officials.
What did Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh do during his Kangpokpi visit?
CM Singh visited the Makhen Baptist Church relief camp in Makhan Naga Village, which shelters around 35 IDPs including Naga women and children from Konsakhul Village. He distributed relief materials, inspected the community hall, and instructed the Deputy Commissioner to provide mattresses and mosquito nets to the displaced residents.
Who are the Internally Displaced Persons sheltering in Makhan Naga Village?
The relief camp at Makhan Naga Village in Kangpokpi district houses approximately 35 people, primarily Naga women and children from Konsakhul Village who were among those taken hostage and later released by armed cadres during the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur.
