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A joint team of security forces in Manipur arrested four Kuki men for their suspected involvement in the abduction of six Naga civilians, after unidentified extremists ambushed and killed three church leaders on May 13.Personnel of the Manipur police, Assam Rifles, and the Central Reserve Police Force nabbed the four men from a stretch of an inter-village road between P. Molding and Leilon Vaiphei villages in the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district on Monday (May 25, 2026). The six Nagas, including church leaders, have been missing from Leilon Vaiphei.Armed village volunteersThe four arrested men were identified as Thangkhomang Khongsai, 51; Seikholet Khongsai, 40; Lunminthang Dimngel, 27; and Kamgoulal Khongsai, 30.“The individuals are suspected to be active cadres of armed village volunteer groups in Kangpokpi district and are suspected to have been involved in anti-social activities, such as extortion, criminal intimidation, and possession of arms and ammunition. The role of apprehended individuals in the abduction of six individuals is suspected and will be ascertained during the course of investigation,” an official statement issued on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) said.Earlier, Manipur’s Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho said organisations belonging to different communities had held at least 44 people hostage, after the three church leaders were gunned down. Police said 31 people have since been released.‘No probe or arrests for Kuki hostages’Kuki-Zo organisations hoped the security forces would conduct operations to apprehend those who continue to hold 14 of their community members hostage, including three minor students.“It is sad that no probe has been ordered or no arrest made in connection with the disappearance of our men,” a Kuki-Zo leader based in Churachandpur said, referring to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s announcement that the case of six missing Naga individuals would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency.On Monday (May 25), Kuki-Zo organisations extended their shutdown indefinitely. The shutdown was called on May 13 to demand justice for the slain church leaders and the release of the Kuki-Zo hostages. Published - May 26, 2026 07:01 pm IST