New Delhi: A day after being abducted by suspected militants, 21 individuals belonging to the Tangkhul Naga community have been released in Manipur’s Ukhrul on Thursday (March 12), officials told Morung Express.The hostages were allegedly released in the early hours of Thursday after talks and negotiations were held between state government officials and leaders of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) representing both the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities. Post their release, the individuals were taken to Litan police station before they reunited with their respective families.As per the Morung Express report, a police official in Imphal said that the individuals were abducted by Kuki villagers and armed men at Shangkai, a Kuki-inhabited village in Ukhrul district on Wednesday (March 11) afternoon when they were travelling in three vehicles along the Ukhrul-Imphal route.On Wednesday, Ukhrul-based Tangkhul Naga Long, the apex body of the Tangkhul Nagas in Manipur, had alleged that Kuki militants were behind the abduction. The organisation had called it a “pre-planned act of violence targeting the Nagas” and asked both the state and central governments to rescue them “within two hours or face the consequences”.However, Shangkai Village authority, representing residents of a Kuki settlement in Ukhrul, issued a statement suggesting that Tangkhul Naga “volunteers” started the confrontation but did not mention the abductions, Times of India reported.The authority alleged that the group opened fire on farmers in Thowai Kuki village, detained several Kukis, and set huts ablaze. In a separate incident, two workers fixing a water pipe went missing after being shot at by suspected Tangkhul attackers, according to the village authority. A third villager with a bullet wound to the leg is hospitalised, they alleged. In response, locals blocked Ukhrul Road, demanding the immediate release of the missing workers, the authority said.On Wednesday, Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh wrote a post on X expressing concern and urging the kidnappers to “immediately release all civilians safely and unconditionally” and appealing to CSOs and stakeholders to “help restore calm and maintain peace”.“Deeply concerned by reports of civilians being held captive along the Ukhrul–Imphal road under Litan Police Station. I strongly urge those responsible to immediately release all civilians safely and unconditionally,” he wrote.The chief minister added: “The government is closely monitoring the situation, and strict action will be taken against those involved in this unlawful and cowardly act. Senior officials have been directed to act urgently. I appeal to all CSOs and stakeholders to help restore calm and maintain peace.”Lat month, ethnic clashes broke out between Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities at Litan Sareikhong over territorial disputes, leaving over 30 houses from both sides burnt.Deputy chief minister yet to visit Imphal, chief minister yet to visit hill areasThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership chose Singh, a Meitei, to take over the reins in the conflict-torn Manipur, nearly a year after the Union government imposed President’s Rule in the state. In order to adopt a social representation formula, the party also appointed two deputy chief ministers Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho representing the Kuki-Zo and Naga tribes, respectively.However, the move backfired.The Kuki-Zo Council, which had pledged earlier that there can’t be any political resolution if the hilly regions populated by the community is not granted autonomy, have unanimously rejected Kipgen’s leadership and has demanded her resignation.In a first such instance, Kipgen, who was toted as the first female deputy chief minister of the state, had to be sworn-in from Manipur Bhawan in New Delhi via a video link amidst huge protests in both the national capital and Churachandpur.Even over a month after taking oath on February 5, Kipgen is yet to set up an office in Imphal. She works from her home in the hill district of Kangpokpi and the deputy commissioner’s office, Hindustan Times reported.“Deputy CM Kipgen has been attending meetings from the deputy commissioner’s office in Kangpokpi because she is yet to travel to Imphal. The district administration arranges the video conferencing facility. She has been meeting the CM and her cabinet colleagues over VC almost every day,” an officer aware of the matter was quoted as saying by HT.Another official told HT that Kipgen flew down to Dimapur from Delhi when she returned to Kangpokpi, instead of flying to Imphal. Imphal is only one hour away from Kangpokpi while Dimpaur is around six-seven hours. The road between Kangpokpi and Dimapur does not include any Meitei areas.Similarly, chief minister Singh is yet to visit the hills, dominated by the Kuki-Zos. On February 19, Singh interacted virtually with Kuki-Zo victims of the recent ethnic clashes from the hill district of Churachandpur.