Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam addressed the assembly regarding a violent incident involving armed Naga youths who attacked Thawai Kuki village, setting fire to farmers’ huts and abducting two Kuki men. In response to these abductions, armed Kuki men stopped three vehicles transporting 21 Tangkhul Nagas on the Imphal-Ukhrul Road, taking the passengers hostage. Despite the deployment of central forces, including the Border Security Force (BSF), rescue efforts were temporarily hindered as local women blocked the roads. The army later cordoned off the area where the hostages were held. During the unrest, gunfire was reported in the Mapithel area, resulting in a bullet injury to a Kuki individual, Lanminthang Kipgen, who was subsequently hospitalized.
In light of the escalating situation, the Chief Minister was in contact with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) became involved in the hostage rescue. After extended negotiations, the 21 Tangkhul Naga villagers were released early in the morning. The Home Minister emphasized that violence would not lead to peace and called for discussions to resolve the conflict, appealing to civil society organizations to promote unity among the different ethnic groups. Chief Minister Khemchand echoed this sentiment, expressing concern that citizens were increasingly identifying by their ethnic communities rather than as Manipuris, urging a return to collective identity as Manipuris first. The call for unity among Meiteis, Nagas, and Kukis was emphasized as essential for peace in the state.