New Delhi: The discovery of the bodies of six Naga men who had been missing since May 13 a day ago has given way to fresh violence in Manipur, with two Kuki men reported dead in Kamjong district today, June 11.A day after 14 Kuki men held captive by Naga groups were released in Manipur, security forces recovered the bodies of six Naga men who had been missing since May 13. The remains were recovered on June 10, triggering outrage across Naga-inhabited areas of the state. The discovery led to renewed political demands for the removal of Manipur deputy chief minister Nemcha Kipgen, whose husband, Semtinthang Kipgen heads the Kuki National Front-P or KNF-P, a group accused by Naga bodies of involvement in the abduction and killings.In a statement issued on June 10, Manipur Police said, “After nearly 24 hours of sustained search operations involving around 450 personnel of the Manipur Police, CRPF, and Assam Rifles, assisted by sniffer dogs and forensic expert teams, the mortal remains of six persons were recovered this afternoon. The deceased are believed to be among those taken hostage from Leilon Vaiphei on 13 May 2026.”The six men whose remains were recovered were part of a group of 18 Naga civilians abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district on May 13, as hostilities between Kuki and Naga groups intensified following a series of killings and abductions in the region.The abductions took place amid escalating tensions following the killing of three church leaders from the Thadou tribe in an ambush earlier that day. While 12 Naga hostages held by a Kuki group, including women and children, were subsequently released, six men remained unaccounted for until their remains were recovered on June 10.According to the copies of the complaints and the first information report accessed by The Wire, a complaint was registered at Sekmai Police Station on May 14 by D. Adam Liangmai of Konsakhul village. The complaint alleged that 18 Naga civilians travelling through Leilon Vaiphei village were forcibly pulled out of their vehicles at around 11 am on May 13 by armed Kuki militants.The FIR states that the victims were assaulted, their phones seized and that frantic calls received from some of the abducted described the situation as “very hostile”. Police registered the case under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita sections 140(3) (kidnapping/abduction with intent to secretly confine), 142 (Knowingly hiding or keeping a kidnapped/abducted person), 127(6) (wrongfully confining someone in a secret/undisclosed location), and 310(6) (being a member of a habitual gang of dacoits). The case was subsequently transferred to the jurisdictional police station.On May 21, relatives of the abducted men submitted a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, Imphal West, stating that six of the hostages remained missing after 12 women and children had been released. The complaint expressed fears that the missing men could be subjected to violence, torture or custodial death if urgent steps were not taken to secure their release.The six men who remained missing were identified in the complaint as Pastor Reverend Manu Thiumai, Pastor Kenpibou Chawang, Phenrongwibou Thiumai, Phenrilungbou Chawang, Dilip Thiumai and Kaliwangbou Abonmai. The recovery of the bodies has sparked widespread anger among Naga civil society organisations.In a press statement issued on June 10, the United Naga Council (UNC) alleged that the six hostages had been recovered in a “highly mutilated and dismembered condition” and described the killings as a “gross violation of human rights” and a challenge to the collective security of the Naga people. The organisation announced a 24-hour total shutdown across Naga-inhabited areas from 6 am on June 11 to 6 am on June 12. The UNC also stated that the mortal remains of the six men would not be received until its demands were addressed by the governments of Manipur and India.Among the demands raised by the UNC are the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups, the arrest and prosecution of those allegedly involved in the abduction and killings, the declaration of the Kuki National Front-President (KNF-P) as a terrorist organisation, and the removal of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen from office.Speaking to The Wire, A.C. Thotso, secretary of the Working Committee of the UNC alleged, “These killings were done by KNF-P and the chief of KNF-P is the husband of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen. I don’t believe justice can be delivered until his wife remains as the deputy of state.”Nemcha Kipgen was among the BJP-backed legislators who played a key role in ending President’s Rule in Manipur and was subsequently appointed as the state’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister. The other leaders elevated to ministerial positions at the time were L.M. Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate.Since her appointment, Kipgen has faced criticism from sections of the Kuki community, with protests held in both Delhi and Manipur over some of her political decisions.Fresh violenceThe recovery of the six bodies was followed by fresh reports of violence from parts of Manipur. Incidents of arson were reported from Senapati district, while reports also emerged of two Kuki men being killed on the morning of June 11 and their bodies burnt in Kultuh village in Kamjong district.The two were identified as Letminlun Haokip and Lunminthang Haokip, both in their mid-thirties.The Wire reached out to the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) Delhi regarding the recovery of the six Naga men’s bodies and the allegations being made by Naga organisations.KSO Delhi-NCR president Tingbem urged the authorities to maintain law and order and prevent further escalation of violence in the state. Referring to reports emerging after the recovery of the bodies, she said, “Two Kuki men were killed and burnt at Kultuh village this morning in Kamjong district. I hope the competent authorities will do the needful and the law will take its due course.”So far more than 250 people have died in the Manipur violence, which has largely involved clashes between the Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo tribes in the hill district. The conflict has also displaced over 60,000 people across Manipur.