Manipur: Thousands of Naga women stage sit-in protest, demand release of six men held hostage
Note: This article covers the same Manipur Naga–Kuki hostage crisis as article 97982. For the comprehensive explainer — including static topic bridges on Suspension of Operations (SoO), Sixth Schedule, AFSPA, Naga peace process, and Naga–Kuki ethnic conflict history — see:
97982_manipur-naga-kuki-hostage-crisis-soo-ethnic-conflict.md
The Naga Women's Union, under the aegis of the Senapati District Women Association and parallel bodies across Manipur, organised large-scale sit-in protests on May 20, 2026, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of six Naga men abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village in Senapati district on May 13.
Thousands of women gathered simultaneously at Tribal Market, New Checkon (Imphal East) and in multiple Naga-inhabited districts: Senapati, Noney, Ukhrul, Kamjong, Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tamenglong.
The six missing persons — Dr. Rev. Manu, Pastor Kenpibou, Dilip Thiumai, Kaliwangbou, Phenrongwibou Thiumai, and Ch. Phenrilungbou — remained untraced at the time of the protests.
The Naga Women's Union called on both the state and Central governments to use "any and all professional mechanisms and power" to secure the safe release of the captives.
Protesters also demanded the arrest and prosecution of all armed individuals and groups responsible for the abductions.
The protests were a civil society response to the broader ethnic hostage crisis in which over 40 civilians from Naga and Kuki-Zo communities had been held hostage since May 13; approximately 28–30 were released by May 15, but six Naga captives remained missing.
- Protest organiser: Naga Women's Union (Senapati District Women Association and allied bodies)
- Protest date: May 20, 2026
- Districts of simultaneous protests: Senapati, Noney, Ukhrul, Kamjong, Churachandpur, Chandel, Tamenglong, Imphal East
- Six named captives: Dr. Rev. Manu, Pastor Kenpibou, Dilip Thiumai, Kaliwangbou, Phenrongwibou Thiumai, Ch. Phenrilungbou
- Abduction date: May 13, 2026; location: Leilon Vaiphei village, Senapati district
- Total hostages at peak: 40+ (both Naga and Kuki-Zo communities)
- Released by May 15: ~28–30 hostages