The Kuki-Zo Council has appealed for peace in Manipur, urging all armed groups to refrain from violence and calling for the immediate handover of all hostages, whether alive or dead, to authorities and their families.
The apex body of the Kuki-Zo communities also urged the government to act impartially and ensure the safety and security of civilians.
A twin ambush at separate locations killed three church leaders in Kangpokpi district and one Naga man in Noney district on May 13.
Kuki and Naga bodies have said 48 people (28 Kukis and 20 Nagas) have been held hostage.
Manipur home minister Govindas Konthoujam maintained that over 38 people belonging to both communities were being held.
The KZC also urged the government and security forces to act impartially to ensure the safety and security of all civilians and to work sincerely towards restoring normalcy, trust and confidence among the public.
The hostage crisis is the latest in a series of crises in Manipur, where ethnic violence has continued sporadically despite the deployment of thousands of security personnel.
The state's Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities have shut each other out from the areas they dominate since ethnic clashes began in May 2023, leaving at least 260 people dead and displacing 60,000.
