The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has strongly condemned the alleged abduction of 71-year-old Hemjang Haokip from Khunkho Kuki Village in the Sadar Hills region of Manipur’s Kangpokpi district. According to statements released by the organization, the elderly man was taken from his village at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon by armed individuals suspected to be cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF-Kamson) faction.^[1]
The situation rapidly escalated over the weekend as search operations, bolstered by security forces and sniffer dogs, led to the alarming discovery of clothes belonging to the abducted man near his farm.^[2] During the incident, reports indicate that a hut belonging to the elderly farmer was also burnt down by the perpetrators.^[3] In response to these developments, local village bodies have set a 24-hour deadline for his safe release, intensifying pressure on law enforcement and government authorities to trace his whereabouts.^[4]
Violation of Ceasefire Rules and Communal Harmony
CoTU has characterized the targeting of an elderly civilian as a deliberate and serious provocation designed to heighten communal tensions and disrupt the long-standing coexistence between the Kuki and Naga communities in the region.^[5] The committee drew direct links between this abduction and recent political developments in the state, specifically noting the recent suspension of an economic blockade by the United Naga Council (UNC).^[6]
A primary concern raised by CoTU is the brazen nature of the crime. The organization publicly questioned how armed cadres belonging to groups currently bound by official ceasefire agreements could allegedly operate openly with firearms in broad daylight.^[7] CoTU stressed that if the involvement of these factions is confirmed, it raises critical questions about compliance with established ceasefire ground rules and highlights a severe deterioration of the security apparatus in the Kangpokpi district.^[8]
Demands for State and Civil Intervention
Describing the abduction as an act engineered by vested interests to sow division, CoTU has launched an urgent appeal to civil society organizations, church leaders, and community elders across all communities to intervene on strict humanitarian grounds and facilitate Haokip’s immediate and safe release.^[9]
Furthermore, the committee has directed its demands to the highest levels of the state apparatus. CoTU urged Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the State Security Advisor, and local law enforcement agencies to register a formal case, launch an immediate, comprehensive rescue operation, and initiate stringent legal action against those responsible for the abduction and arson.^[10] While the specific identities and factional affiliations of the abductors remain subject to official verification, the incident has severely underscored the fragile nature of peace in peripheral tribal areas.
Footnotes
"Manipur: CoTU condemns alleged abduction of 71-year-old man in Sadar Hills," Northeast Now, October 4, 2026,
https://nenow.in/north-east-news/manipur/manipur-cotu-condemns-alleged-abduction-of-71-year-old-man-in-sadar-hills.html Kaybie Chongloi, "Manipur: Clothes of allegedly abducted 71-year-old Kuki man found; village body sets 24-hour release deadline," India Today NE, October 4, 2026,
https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/manipur-clothes-of-allegedly-abducted-71-year-old-kuki-man-found-village-body-sets-24-hour-release-deadline-1458628-2026-10-04 "Elderly Kuki Farmer Abducted, Hut Burnt - CoTU Blames NSCN-IM," Kukiland Express, October 4, 2026,
https://kukilandexpress.in/elderly-kuki-farmer-abducted-hut/ Chongloi, "Manipur: Clothes of allegedly abducted 71-year-old Kuki man found."
"CoTU Condemns Alleged Abduction of 71-Year-Old Man in Sadar Hills," ManipurArticles.com, October 4, 2026,
https://manipurarticles.com/manipur-cotu-condemns-alleged-abduction-of-71-year-old-man-in-sadar-hills/ "Manipur: CoTU condemns alleged abduction of 71-year-old man in Sadar Hills," Northeast Now.
"Manipur: CoTU condemns alleged abduction of 71-year-old man in Sadar Hills," Northeast Now.
"Elderly Kuki Farmer Abducted, Hut Burnt - CoTU Blames NSCN-IM," Kukiland Express.
"CoTU Condemns Alleged Abduction of 71-Year-Old Man in Sadar Hills," ManipurArticles.com.
"Manipur: CoTU condemns alleged abduction of 71-year-old man in Sadar Hills," Northeast Now.
Bibliography
Chongloi, Kaybie. "Manipur: Clothes of allegedly abducted 71-year-old Kuki man found; village body sets 24-hour release deadline." India Today NE. October 4, 2026.
"CoTU Condemns Alleged Abduction of 71-Year-Old Man in Sadar Hills." ManipurArticles.com. October 4, 2026.
"Elderly Kuki Farmer Abducted, Hut Burnt - CoTU Blames NSCN-IM." Kukiland Express. October 4, 2026.
"Manipur: CoTU condemns alleged abduction of 71-year-old man in Sadar Hills." Northeast Now. October 4, 2026.