Tamenglong, June 11| EKHON: The Joint Tribes’ Council (JTC)-Manipur has called upon Naga communities to respond with solidarity rather than division amid growing anger over the killing of six Naga civilians and the controversial release of 14 Kuki detainees. In a statement issued on June 10, the council urged people to support efforts aimed at safeguarding every Naga life while ensuring that the victims of the recent violence are not forgotten. Stressing that justice must remain a central objective, JTC-Manipur warned against allowing grief and anger to undermine collective unity during a period of heightened ethnic tensions.
The council’s appeal came as it sought to explain and defend its decision to facilitate the release of the 14 detainees, a move that has sparked debate and criticism within sections of the Naga community. Acknowledging the widespread grief and outrage over the deaths of six Naga men, JTC-Manipur maintained that the decision was taken after extensive consultations and was guided solely by the welfare and protection of Naga people.
In a statement released on June 10, the council acknowledged the widespread anger, grief, and sense of betrayal felt by Naga communities after the deaths of the six men. The organization said it fully understood public sentiments and emphasized that its decision should not be interpreted as forgetting or excusing the killings.
“We have heard your anger. We have felt your grief,” the statement said, adding that the council was not asking people to forget the slain victims or forgive those responsible, but rather to understand the circumstances behind the decision.
According to JTC-Manipur, the release of the detainees was the result of extensive consultations and collective deliberations involving Naga leadership structures, including 20 tribal Naga hohos under the United Naga Council (UNC). The council stressed that the decision was neither an act of weakness nor fear but was made after careful consideration of the broader security and welfare of Naga communities. “The decision was taken with the full collective voice of our communities,” the statement noted, asserting that protecting Naga lives remained the primary consideration behind the move.
Addressing criticism directed at Naga leaders, JTC-Manipur urged community members to maintain trust in their institutions while continuing to hold leaders accountable. The statement acknowledged that not every decision would be universally accepted but argued that unity among Naga tribes had historically been crucial for survival during periods of conflict and uncertainty.
The council appealed to the public not to allow internal divisions to weaken the community at a time when tensions remain high. While defending the release decision, JTC-Manipur strongly reiterated its demand for justice for the six slain Naga civilians. The organization said the victims are innocent members of the community and pledged to continue pressing authorities for a thorough investigation and legal action against those responsible.
The statement called for immediate arrests of the perpetrators, criminal prosecution and convictions, accountability for all individuals involved in the killings and removal of any officials found to have aided or protected the perpetrators. The council emphasized that pursuing justice and protecting lives were not mutually exclusive goals and that both objectives would continue to guide its actions.Â
