An apex body of Manipur's Kuki-Zo communities has appealed for the handover of all captives, whether dead or alive, amid a hostage crisis and escalating Naga-Kuki tensions.
The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) urged armed groups and individuals to refrain from further violence and called on the government and security forces to act impartially to ensure the safety and security of civilians.
The statement was issued a day after a meeting in Churachandpur, where leaders of tribes, chiefs' associations, church forums, philanthropic groups, and lawmakers resolved to work towards peace, understanding, and peaceful coexistence.
The leaders appealed for 'peace, harmony, and brotherhood with our Naga brothers in Manipur in the true spirit of Christianity.'
The hostage crisis triggered protests, a shutdown, and an indefinite blockade along all three national highways in the state.
At least 260 people have died and 60,000 have been displaced in the ethnic clashes that began in May 2023.
