More than 40 Kuki-Zo and Naga people, including women and minors, were held captives by suspected extremists after three church leaders belonging to the Thadou tribe were ambushed and killed by unknown gunmen on May 13.
GUWAHATIThe families of 14 abducted Kuki-Zo people in Manipur’s hill districts renewed their appeal for their safe release, as the deadline set by an apex Naga organisation for the State government to track their missing community members expired on Sunday (May 17, 2026) evening.More than 40 Kuki-Zo and Naga people, including women and minors, were held captives by suspected extremists after three church leaders belonging to the Thadou tribe were ambushed and killed by unknown gunmen on May 13. The captors released 28 hostages — 14 each from both communities — on May 15.Kuki-Zo organisations said 14 more of their community members, including three minor students, remain in captivity. According to a Liangmai (Naga) women’s union in Kangpokpi district, six Nagas continue to be held hostage.“We address you today not with the language of politics, conflict or adversaries but with the raw, heartfelt cry of mothers, fathers, wives, and children. We are the families of the 13 individuals from Taphou Kuki village and one from Hengbung village who are still in custody since May 13,” the families wrote in the joint appeal on Sunday.They said most of the captives did not take part in the conflict and that many of those detained could be suffering from failing health, psychological trauma, and severe distress.“Every passing hour inflicts profound, agonising torment on our family,” the families said, adding that mothers, fathers, and children were living in a state of unbearable grief, praying daily for the safety of their loved ones.Recalling a “history of peace, mutual respect, and brotherhood” between Kuki and Naga villagers of Senapati district, the families said: “Our boys are not activists or combatants, and they have absolutely nothing to do with the wider conflict or the political storms surrounding us.”Four hill districts — the Kuki-dominated Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, and the Naga-majority Senapati and Ukhrul — have been tense since the conflict between the two tribal Christian communities began in February following a late night brawl. More than half a dozen people have been killed and scores of houses have been torched since then.Kuki-Zo organisations imposed a 48-hour shutdown on May 13 following the killing of the church leaders, which was extended by another 48 hours due to the hostage crisis. The shutdown has hit goods transport on two arterial highways linking the Imphal Valley to the rest of the country.The United Naga Council (UNC), which set a 2 p.m. deadline on Saturday (May 16, 2026) for the Manipur government to secure the release of Nagas missing since May 13, extended it to 6 p.m. on Sunday after receiving a letter from the State Home Department that extensive search operations were in progress. “Even after these deferments, the six Naga innocent civilians are still being held hostage by the Kuki militants, as reports have been received that the State machineries have not been able to trace and rescue them, even after well past the deadlines. Given the situation, we are constrained to launch an inter-district economic blockade along the National Highways in the Naga areas in Manipur with immediate effect until the safe rescue and release of the Naga hostages are duly carried out,” the UNC said in a statement. Published - May 17, 2026 08:15 pm IST
Police personnel and officials at the site after an explosion at a firecracker factory in Tonk Kalan area of Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh on Thursday (May 14, 2026). | Dewas Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Sanjeev Jain told PTI, "Two workers admitted to a private hospital in Dewas succumbed during treatment. This brings the total number of deaths to five."Officials said Anil Malviya, the licensed owner of the firecracker factory operating in the Tonk Kalan area has been arrested under the stringent provisions of the National Security Act (NSA).According to officials, Mr. Malviya's firecracker license has been suspended.Three workers who were injured in the fire have been admitted to the Government Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital in Indore.Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited the hospital to enquire about the well-being of the victims.He told reporters, "We have taken action against the owner of the firecracker factory under the National Security Act (NSA). We are conducting a detailed investigation into the incident, and further action will be taken based on the investigation report."The Chief Minister said, "The state government will not spare anyone guilty in this case. This incident serves as a lesson, and we hope it will not be repeated."Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Dewda said that along with the factory owner's arrest, a magisterial inquiry has also been ordered.Home Department Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Shukla said that officials from the central government's Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), the State Pollution Control Board, and the Forensic Science Laboratory are investigating the explosion at the firecracker factory.District Magistrate Rituraj Singh said that two licenses for manufacturing and selling firecrackers were issued to factory owner Malviya. Also Read : Nine killed as blaze engulfs residential building in Delhi’s ShahdaraHe said, "These licenses were first issued on December 23 last year. They were renewed on May 6 this year." According to Mr. Singh, the factory had begun manufacturing small firecrackers only 15 days ago.Meanwhile, state Congress president Jitu Patwari arrived at the scene and criticised the state government over the incident. Mr. Patwari said, "This incident shows that the gunpowder mafia, which imports raw materials from China, has established its dominance in the state."He alleged that the owner of the firecracker factory enjoys the patronage of leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Mr. claimed that firecrackers manufactured at the factory were being illegally stored in agricultural produce warehouses and that more than 40 minor boys were working at the factory. He demanded the immediate suspension of the district magistrate for his alleged failure to prevent irregularities at the factory. Published - May 15, 2026 06:33 am IST
KOCHI, Kerala, 03/12/2025 : SARP volunteers dmonstarating their snake-rescue skills during the license renewal drive held at Suvarnodyanam Biological Park, Ernakulam on Wednesday. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat/The Hindu | The plan emphasises strengthening surveillance of snakebite cases and related deaths in humans by improving data monitoring through the integrated health information platform (IHIP) and health management information system (HMIS) and the SARPA app. Hospitals receiving a higher number of snakebite cases will be “red-flagged” and provided with enhanced facilities for effective management.Hospitals which are red-flagged will be provided with enhanced facilities for snakebite management. Published - April 29, 2026 08:08 pm IST
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