The release came amid protests and a shutdown following the alleged abduction and killing of two Kuki-Zo youths from Taphou Kuki village. CRPF, Manipur Police and village leaders helped defuse the situation.
BY PC Bureau
November 3: A potentially volatile situation in Manipur Senapati district was defused after villagers of Taphou Kuki released two Naga youths detained on November 1, following intervention by the CRPF and Senapati Police.
The release comes at a time of mounting tension in the area following the alleged abduction and killing of two Kuki-Zo youths from Taphou Kuki village. The incident has triggered protests and a shutdown called by Kuki civil society organisations.
The two Naga youths were identified as PS Khopuh, 39, son of Phuba Khuman and a resident of Maram, and Joseph, 44, son of Veikhai, from Taphou Phyamai.
The two reportedly crossed the Liangmai Taphou Check Post at around 9 pm on November 1 and proceeded towards Taphou Kuki village along National Highway-2. Villagers intercepted them after they were allegedly found driving at high speed under the influence of alcohol.
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Personnel from the CRPF’s F/152, F/36 and D/169 battalions intervened. Representatives of Senapati Police subsequently joined the efforts to resolve the matter.
A joint meeting was held at the residence of the Taphou Kuki-Zo village chief. Following negotiations, the villagers agreed to release the two youths along with their vehicle and hand them over to Senapati Police.
The decision to release the men helped prevent a fresh confrontation in an area already on edge over the killings of the two Kuki-Zo youths. The CRPF and police intervention, coupled with the cooperation of village leaders, proved crucial in defusing the situation.
The episode comes against a wider backdrop of tensions in Manipur between the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities, where competing claims, security concerns and unresolved violence have strained relations between communities. In such circumstances, even a local dispute can quickly acquire a wider dimension.
