Manipur High Court seeks Action Taken Report on six missing Naga men by June 8

Guwahati: The Manipur High Court has directed the state government to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) by June 8 on efforts to trace six Naga men allegedly abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district on May 13.

The direction came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by T Mark Khapai, president of the Naga Lawyers' Association, Manipur. The matter was heard by a division bench comprising MS Sundar and Ahanthem Bimol Singh.

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Speaking to reporters after the hearing, counsel Riamei said the court had directed the chief secretary to file a detailed ATR outlining steps taken so far in the case.

"Since May 13, nobody knows their whereabouts. Nobody knows whether they are alive, safe, or otherwise. Therefore, we were compelled to file this PIL before the High Court," Riamei said.

According to Riamei, while the state government informed the court that the case had been handed over to the NIA, the Deputy Solicitor General of India stated that the agency had not received any official communication regarding the matter.

The hostage crisis in Manipur has meanwhile deepened, with the United Naga Council (UNC) cancelling its plan to release 14 Kukis allegedly being held hostage unless six Naga civilians, purportedly in the custody of Kuki groups, are freed.

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The UNC recently said the proposed release had been cancelled due to the "prevailing sentiments of the Naga public". Earlier in the day, a crowd had attempted to storm the council's office.

Vehicular movement on national highways remains disrupted as both Naga and Kuki groups continue bandhs and economic blockades over the missing persons issue following the May 13 ambush in which three church leaders belonging to the Thadou tribe were killed.

The incident heightened tensions between the two communities, triggering allegations of abduction and detention from both sides. According to the state home department, more than 38 people were initially reported missing after the violence, though authorities later said 32 had returned.