Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Kuki Inpi Manipur, KOHUR, and COTU hailed the release as a humanitarian gesture, expressing hope that the breakthrough would help rebuild trust and pave the way for lasting peace in the conflict-hit state.
BY PC Bureau
June 9, 2026: As Manipur emerged from a tense 26-day hostage crisis with the safe release of 14 Kuki-Zo civilians held captive since May 13, messages of relief, gratitude, and appeals for reconciliation poured in from political leaders, church bodies, and civil society organisations across the region.
Among the first to welcome the development was Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who described the release as a “safe and humane” act carried out by the United Naga Council and Naga civil society organisations in response to appeals made by church leaders led by the Baptist World Alliance.
“I sincerely hope this development will contribute to restoring trust, healing divisions and paving the way for lasting peace in Manipur,” Rio said in a series of social media posts. He added that harmony, fraternity, and mutual understanding must prevail so that all communities can move forward together in peace, equality, and shared progress.
Calling the release an “act of humanity,” Rio said it should serve as a reminder that dialogue, compassion, and faith remain the most powerful tools for reconciliation. At the same time, he renewed his appeal for the release of six Naga individuals who remain in captivity, urging a reciprocal humanitarian gesture that could further strengthen trust and dialogue between communities.
I welcome the safe and humane release of the Kuki hostages by the United Naga Council and Naga civil society organisations, in response to the appeal made by Church bodies led by the Baptist World Alliance.
— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) June 9, 2026
The release was also welcomed by the Kuki Inpi Manipur, which expressed gratitude to the Central Government, the Manipur Government, security agencies, the United Naga Council, the Naga Students’ Federation, and various civil society organisations that participated in a crucial meeting in Senapati on June 7 that paved the way for the hostages’ freedom.
In a statement, the organisation particularly acknowledged the efforts of Christian religious leaders from both Nagaland and Manipur, who worked to facilitate dialogue following the killing of three Kuki-Zo pastors that had intensified tensions between the communities.
“Enough blood has been shed. The time has come to pursue peace and reconciliation, for an eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind,” the Kuki Inpi said, urging all communities to rise above prejudice and suspicion and embrace the values of truth, justice, and love.
🚨 After 27 days in captivity — abducted on May 13th — these 14 Kuki hostages are finally back in the arms of their families.
Tears of unimaginable relief, mothers and wives who feared they had lost their husbands and children forever, now holding them tight. A moment of pure… pic.twitter.com/DrqE1oV2Ds
— Min (@minkukizo) June 9, 2026
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) also expressed profound relief at the release of the fourteen men, noting that their prolonged detention had caused immense anguish to their families and the wider Kuki-Zo community.
KOHUR credited government agencies, security forces, civil administrators, tribal organisations, and community leaders for their sustained efforts to secure the captives’ release. The organisation reserved special appreciation for Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, saying his intervention and humanitarian leadership played an instrumental role in achieving a peaceful resolution.
READ:Â Manipur: 14 Kuki Hostages Freed After 27 Days in Captivity
The rights body also praised the Naga Students’ Federation and traditional leaders from Senapati district for what it called their moral leadership and willingness to rise above division in the service of human dignity.
While celebrating the release, KOHUR reiterated that the detention of innocent civilians constitutes a grave violation of human rights and urged all stakeholders to resolve differences through dialogue, mutual respect, and peaceful means.
The release of the fourteen captives marks the end of one of the most sensitive hostage episodes in Manipur since the outbreak of ethnic violence in 2023. Though the crisis has ended, leaders from both communities stressed that the moment should be used to build trust and advance reconciliation, rather than deepen existing divides. With appeals now focused on the release of the remaining Naga captives, many hope the humanitarian breakthrough could become a stepping stone toward broader peace efforts in the troubled state.
Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) also issued a message of gratitude, thanking the Government of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, and Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s successor Y. Khemchand Singh for their interventions that contributed to the safe release of the 14 Kuki-Zo civilians. The organisation also acknowledged the efforts of Manipur’s Deputy Chief Ministers Nemcha Kipgen and Yumnam Khemchand Singh Losii Dikho, crediting them with helping bridge the trust deficit between the two tribal communities.
COTU further expressed gratitude to Baptist churches across the Northeast for promoting forgiveness and peace during a period of heightened tension. In a notable appeal for reconciliation, the organisation said the families of the three slain Kuki-Zo church leaders had chosen forgiveness over vengeance, entrusting justice to God while urging all Christians to uphold the values of peace, faith and brotherhood.
“May the good God guide us all. Amen,” the statement concluded.
