Freed women fear for the worst
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 18 2026: With six days gone during which the Government and security forces have failed to find any clue to the whereabouts of the six Naga men who were abducted by Kuki militants, there is a strong suspicion that the all six captives could have met the worst.

Altogether 18 people including 12 women were abducted by Kuki militants from Leilon Vaiphei on May 13 .

While the 12 women were freed later, the six men were held hostage by the Kuki militants and their whereabouts are unknown till today.

Speaking to media persons at Kanglatongbi today, the 12 women freed by the Kuki militants expressed deep fear that the six missing Naga men might have been eliminated.

Recalling how they were abducted, the women said that they were travelling on the road through Leilon Vaiphei when they were intercepted by around 30 Kuki women and men. They said that 18 of them including six men were detained by the Kukis.

The Kuki men and women who looked like civilians took the 18 Nagas to a hill and handed them over to Kuki militants.

Later, the six men were taken away in a vehicle.

The remaining 12 women were blindfolded and taken to another hilly location.

The women were kept blindfolded all the time and the captors threatened to shoot them to death if they complained.

One small boy who was among the 12 women held captive by the Kuki militants was not blindfolded.

Overwhelmed by extreme fear, the boy told his mother that they were surrounded by armed men.

The women said that they were not given proper food and they were kept blindfolded throughout the night.

The captives heard voices of some armed women too.

When they requested the armed women to open the blindfolds, the armed women shouted back and threatened to shoot them.

"When we women were treated in such an inhuman manner, we can only wonder about the fate of the six men whose whereabouts are still unknown.

We fear for the worst", the women said.

The women said that they did not reveal the details of their ordeal when they were released fearing that the Kuki militants would kill the six men who were in their custody if they revealed the details.

Now six days have passed since the six men were taken hostage and the authorities are still unable to find a clue regarding their whereabouts, they said.

While appealing to all CSOs to help in securing release of the six men at their earliest, if they are still alive, the women survivors expressed strong resentment and indignation against the Govt's lackadaisical attitude to such a grave situation.

They went on to question if the Govt has any hidden agenda.

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