Guwahati: Tension in Manipur showed signs of easing on Friday after 28 civilians abducted by various Naga and Kuki-Zo armed groups were released in batches since Thursday night.Manipur govt in a statment said following coordinated efforts by the administration, security forces, civil society groups and community leaders the 28 civilans from various communities have been safely relased and efforts are on to free the remaining persons.There is no official clarity on the exact number of people taken captive on Wednesday. Manipur home minister Govindas Konthoujam on Thursday said the figure was over 38.Most of the captives belong to Naga and Kuki-Zo communities who were taken away to undisclosed locations from various places after suspected militants ambushed civilian vehicles in Kangpokpi district on May 13, killing three church leaders and injuring four others. Thadou Inpi Manipur in a statement said the three church leaders killed in the ambush have been declared as ‘Thadou martyrs” and underlined that the Thadou community is not a part of Kuki but is a separate and independent entity.On the same day, a Chiru Naga civilian was shot dead and his wife critically injured in Noney district, sparking these retaliatory detentions across the hills.Among those freed are 12 Naga women from Konsakhul village, who were released at Makhan on Friday morning, and 14 Kuki civilians (four men and ten women) were handed over to security forces in Senapati district late Thursday night. Two Salesian brothers of Don Bosco, including one from Nagaland, who had been held separately were also released.The Konsakhul Naga village authority in its FIR said 18 of the community were abducted from Leilon Vaiphei. United Naga Council said two other priests were abducted too. Taphou Kuki village authorities in an FIR said 23 people were abducted from the village.Taken together, the figures add up to 43 people. With 28 released so far, the number of individuals still believed to be in captivity stands at 15.
