The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex body of the Kuki-Zo tribes in Manipur, on Thursday (June 25, 2026) admitted that members of their community executed six Liangmai Naga villagers who were abducted after three Thadou church leaders were killed in an ambush more than a month ago.

Owning up to the “great mistake” in a video while addressing media persons, KZC chairman Henlianthang Thanglet said the six Naga men were killed during an outburst of emotion. “I really criticise it,” he said in the company of KZC spokesperson Ginza Vualzong.

This was the first known public expression of regret by any Kuki individual or civil society organisation over the killing of the six Naga civilians. Their whereabouts were not known until security forces recovered their decomposed and dismembered bodies on June 11.

Hostage crisis

The six Naga civilians were among several abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village hours after unknown gunmen ambushed two vehicles and killed three Thadou church leaders on May 13. Kuki-Zo organisations had blamed that attack on armed Naga groups, primarily the National Socialist Council of Nagalim.

The Thadous are divided about their identity as Kukis. A section claims they are a distinct community, while others insist they belong to the greater Kuki group.

The killing of the church leaders triggered a hostage crisis, as Kuki groups abducted Nagas and Naga groups held Kukis captive. Fourteen abducted members of each community were released after the security forces brokered a hostage exchange deal on May 15.

The United Naga Council (UNC) and church bodies prevailed over the Naga groups to release the remaining 14 Kukis on June 9. The failure of the Kuki-Zo groups to reciprocate created doubts about the safety of the Naga hostages.

Naga outrage

The recovery of their bodies two days later triggered outrage across the Naga-inhabited hills of Manipur and Nagaland, as well as the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley. The UNC and several Naga and Meitei organisations demanded the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations agreement between the Centre and 25 Kuki-Zo armed groups, accusing them of prolonging the ethnic conflict in the State.

On June 8, the National Investigation Agency took over the probe into the killing of the three Thadou church leaders.