2 Men Seek Help In Viral Video, Manipur Chief Minister Says Kidnapped By "Kuki Militants"

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh today called a meeting of all MLAs to discuss the situation in the violence-hit state and the rescue of two men "abducted" by who he claimed were "Kuki militants". The police in a post on X said the security forces are working to rescue the two men kidnapped by "unknown Kuki miscreants".

A video has been shared widely on social media where two men from the valley-dominant Meitei community were seen asking the Chief Minister to "save our lives". The two men, in white T-shirts, also asked Mr Singh to agree to the demand of their kidnappers immediately.

NDTV could not independently verify the video.

"... Addressed the current situation in the state particularly focusing on the rescue of the abduction of two innocent youths by Kuki militants. We condemn such heinous acts and our government is working to secure the safe release of the victims," Mr Singh said in posts on X and Facebook.

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One of the three men who the army handed over to the police on Saturday, identified as Ningombam Johnson Singh, in a video statement today said he went to give the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) general duty recruitment test at 33 Assam Rifles.

Two others accompanied him, Johnson Singh said, adding they followed the directions shown on Google Maps. All the three men are residents of Thoubal district, 23 km from the state capital Imphal.

Johnson Singh said they entered a Kuki-dominant village after losing their way, and some people from the Kuki tribes found them. He said they were taken to a "camp" on a hill. The kidnappers thrashed Johnson Singh before releasing him.

"They kept me separately before letting me go. I request them to release my brother and my friend too," he said in the video statement, hands folded.   

The other two men have been identified as Oinam Thoithoi Singh and Thokchom Thoithoiba Singh. Their parents have on social media appealed to the kidnappers to release them unharmed.

The Manipur Police said the security forces are trying to rescue the "missing/kidnapped" men "as quickly as possible."

"In connection with the case of two Meitei youths, who were allegedly abducted by unknown Kuki miscreants on 27.09.2024 in Kangpokpi district, Manipur Police and security forces are making all out efforts to rescue the missing/kidnapped youths as quickly as possible. Senior police officers are monitoring the situation critically," the police said.

Manipur Congress MP A Bimol Akoijam in a post on X said rescuing the two hostages is the sole responsibility of the state. "Holding innocent citizens as hostages and making them appeal via the media to fulfil the demand(s) of the abductors is an act of terror... The state should show that it's not complicit in this protracted violence by acting against such terror tactics..." Mr Akoijam said.

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There are many villages of the Kuki tribes in the hills surrounding the Meitei-dominated valley. The clashes between the Meitei community and the nearly two dozen tribes known as Kukis - a term given by the British in colonial times - who are dominant in some hill areas of Manipur, has killed over 220 people and internally displaced nearly 50,000.

The general category Meiteis want to be included under the Scheduled Tribes category, while the Kukis who share ethnic ties with people in neighbouring Myanmar's Chin State and Mizoram want a separate administration carved out of Manipur, citing discrimination and unequal share of resources and power with the Meiteis.