DIMAPUR, JUNE 11 (MExN): A wave of condemnation has followed the recovery of the mortal remains of six Naga men who were allegedly abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district, Manipur, on May 13, with Naga civil society organisations, church bodies, student groups, political organisations and rights groups demanding justice and accountability.
The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) stated that it found itself “lost in words” while trying to comprehend “how some people with animal instincts, calling themselves as human beings can behave and act in manners” that led to six innocent Naga civilians being taken hostage and allegedly executed in a “most gruesome and unspeakable barbarity.”
The NPMHR said it had closely followed developments since the hostage issue emerged and had consistently appealed to Nagas “not to react in ways that may jeopardize the lives of people who are actually innocent and are only caught in cross-fire situation.” It maintained that Nagas had advocated for the safe release of the captives because “Nagas cannot lower our humanity and dignity to the levels of people shorn of humanity and respect for any morale standard of life.”
Referring to the release of 14 Kuki hostages, the NPMHR said that despite “lies, conspiracies, insults and provocations” directed at Nagas from certain quarters, “the magnanimity of the Naga heredity prevailed over all evil designs and actions.” It noted that the 14 Kuki hostages were released “unharmed, in good health and great spirit,” and that Nagas had expected “the same reciprocal result” for the six Naga hostages.
Instead, the organisation said it was “utterly shocked to discover the dismembered mortal remains” of the six men, which it said indicated “the barbarity of the captors devoid of any human attribute.” The NPMHR called upon “all conscientious people across communities, race or countries” to condemn the killings and asserted that “JUSTICE must be done” for the victims and their families.
The Naga Students' Federation (NSF) said it was "profoundly outraged" by what it described as the "abduction, torture, murder and desecration" of the six men. The federation stated that the victims were subjected to "prolonged torture" before being killed and that the mutilation and dismemberment of their bodies revealed "a level of savagery that strikes at the very core of our shared humanity."
The NSF further alleged that the acts were intended to "humiliate, terrorize and dehumanize the entire Naga community" and said the incident reflected the "dangerous normalization of violence and impunity" in Manipur. It held Kuki militants operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement "absolutely accountable" and also questioned both the Governments of India and Manipur over what it termed the failure to protect civilians despite the extensive deployment of security forces. The federation demanded a time-bound investigation and called for the abrogation of the SoO regime.
The Kuki Inpi Nagaland (KIN) also condemned the killings, describing them as a "barbaric and cold-blooded murder" and a "grave crime against humanity." The organisation stated that the deliberate killing of innocent civilians could never be justified and urged authorities to conduct a "thorough, impartial, and time-bound investigation" to ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice. KIN further appealed for restraint and reaffirmed its commitment to peace, reconciliation and harmonious coexistence among communities.
The Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) welcomed the release of 14 Kuki hostages facilitated by the United Naga Council, describing it as an act reflecting "compassion, justice, and mature Christian witness." At the same time, the forum said it joined others in strongly condemning the killing of the six Naga victims.
While expressing grief over the incident, the NJCF urged both Nagas and Kukis to pursue "true Christian reconciliation" through dialogue, understanding and forgiveness. "The blaming game, the lies and the false narratives must find an end," it stated, adding that reconciliation through mutual respect remained the only path to lasting peace between the communities.
The Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India (CBCNEI) described the incident as a “cruel and senseless loss of human life” and stated that the taking of innocent lives was a violation of the values of justice, peace and human brotherhood. It called on all parties affected by the conflict in Manipur to exercise restraint and insisted that justice must be pursued without abandoning the path of peace.
The Eastern Naga Students' Association (ENSA) termed the killings a “barbaric and inhumane act” and “a grave violation of human rights and an assault on the dignity, security, and existence of the Naga people.” ENSA said the “senseless murder of innocent lives has shocked and saddened Nagas across all regions” and demanded an “immediate, impartial, and thorough investigation” to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice.
Appealing for unity, ENSA urged Nagas “beyond artificial boundaries” to stand in solidarity with the bereaved families and people in the southern regions, while remaining committed to lawful and peaceful means in defending Naga rights and dignity.
The North East Students' Organisation (NESO) said it was “deeply horrified” by reports that the victims had been tortured before being killed and mutilated. The organisation described the killings as a “barbaric, inhumane and cold-blooded murder” and said the brutality had “shocked the conscience of the entire North East.”
NESO demanded a “swift, transparent and impartial investigation” and questioned how, despite more than three years of conflict and the deployment of large numbers of Central security forces, “not a single accused involved in the countless killings, abductions, arson and atrocities has been effectively convicted and held accountable.” It further expressed concern over allegations of partisan conduct by security forces and said any complicity, negligence or bias must be addressed.
The Global Naga Forum (GNF) condemned what it described as the “brutal massacre” of six Naga civilians and asserted that “this was not combat. It was the butchery of the defenseless.” The Forum stated that “hostage taking is barbarism,” “the killing of captives is barbarism,” and “the mutilation of the dead is barbarism.”
The GNF demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible, public disclosure of post-mortem findings, and an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the abduction and recovery of the bodies. It also appealed to the National Human Rights Commission to take suo motu cognisance of the case.
In a separate statement, the Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) condemned the abduction and killing of the six Naga men and described it as “a grave violation of human dignity and rights.” The organisation also condemned a series of violent incidents affecting multiple communities across Manipur and called for an immediate end to killings, abductions, arson and retaliatory violence. TIM urged all stakeholders to pursue dialogue, reconciliation and confidence-building measures.
The Nagaland Tribal Hohos Coordination Committee (NTHCC) said the recovery of the victims' mutilated remains had confirmed “the worst fears of the Naga people” and exposed “a horrific, barbaric, and utterly inhuman crime.” It described the killings as “one of the most gruesome and satanic acts witnessed in recent times.”
The NTHCC further stated that the incident was “a direct assault on the dignity, security, and collective existence of the Naga people” and demanded that every individual involved, including perpetrators, conspirators and accomplices, be identified and prosecuted. The committee also acknowledged the role of the United Naga Council (UNC) in facilitating the safe release of 14 Kuki hostages.
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) expressed “deep shock, grief, and sorrow” over the deaths of six Naga civilians, including two pastors. It said the incident constituted “a grave violation of human rights, human dignity, justice, and peace” and urged authorities to conduct a thorough and swift investigation.
The Naga Scholars' Association (NSA) condemned what it called the “heinous and barbaric murder” of six innocent Naga men and described the alleged torture, killing and mutilation as “a crime of exceptional cruelty.” It stated that the incident represented “an extreme violation of the sanctity of human life and an assault upon the most basic values that distinguish humanity from barbarism.”
The Fellowship of Naga Baptist Associations (FNBA) condemned what it described as a “series of brutal killings” involving Naga civilians in Manipur and stated that the reported mutilation of the six victims exposed “the extreme cruelty and depravity of the perpetrators.” The FNBA called for a “thorough, impartial, transparent, and time-bound investigation” and urged authorities to ensure there is “no impunity for such crimes.”
The Naga People's Front (NPF) expressed “profound grief and outrage” over the killings, describing them as a “barbaric and inhuman act” and “a grave violation of human rights.” The party urged the Governments of India and Manipur to conduct an impartial investigation and appealed to all communities to maintain calm and avoid retaliatory actions.
The Nagaland Zeliang People Organisation (NZPO) also condemned the killings, describing them as a “barbaric and inhumane act” and demanding that law enforcement agencies immediately identify and prosecute those responsible.
