ISLAMABAD: Members of the Naga community held a candlelight vigil in Guwahati on Tuesday to honor six Naga civilians who were found dead in Manipur last week amid violence, as protesters demanded justice and stronger action to restore law and order in the troubled northeastern state.
The victims, belonging to the Christian Naga community, are believed to be among those taken hostage from Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13, according to Manipur Police.
Police said the bodies were recovered after more than 24 hours of search operations involving around 450 personnel, sniffer dogs, and forensic teams.
At the vigil, participants lit candles, offered prayers, and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families. They called on the authorities to ensure a transparent investigation and hold those responsible accountable.
They also urged the government to take urgent steps to prevent further ethnic violence in Manipur, where tensions have remained high for more than three years.
The latest killings have deepened fears of a further deterioration in the security situation.
Manipur has been gripped by unrest since May 2023, when clashes erupted between the state’s dominant, mostly Hindu Meitei community and the mainly Christian Kuki tribes over access to economic benefits, land rights, and government job quotas.
The Naga community, Manipur’s third major ethnic group, had largely remained outside the core of the Meitei-Kuki conflict.
However, tensions involving Naga groups escalated earlier this year after a Naga man was allegedly assaulted by Kuki men, drawing the community into the wider unrest.
Rights groups and local organizations have repeatedly urged authorities to protect civilians and pursue dialogue among the communities.
Police said legal formalities were being completed and an investigation into the deaths was underway.
However, media reports say that no group has been officially named by police as responsible for the killings.
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