Naga body demands PM intervention, judicial probe into Manipur civilian killings.

The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body representing 21 Naga tribes in Manipur, has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervention in the escalating security crisis within the state, particularly in Naga-inhabited regions. The council has formally requested a time-bound, independent, and court-monitored judicial investigation into the alleged abduction and subsequent killing of six Naga civilians. This plea was articulated through a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister and highlighted in a press conference in New Delhi [3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11]. The UNC leaders expressed deep concern over the "rapidly deteriorating situation" and alleged incidents of intimidation, hostage-taking, and armed movements in vulnerable Naga areas [3, 5, 10]. The council detailed that twenty Naga individuals were abducted on May 13, following the killing of three Thadou church leaders. While fourteen of the abducted were released on May 15, the remaining six were later found dead, with their bodies recovered on June 10 [3, 8, 11, 28, 32]. The Kuki-Zo Council has since admitted that members of their community were responsible for the killings, describing it as a "grave mistake" committed out of emotion [28, 32]. Beyond the demand for a judicial probe and justice for the victims, the UNC is also advocating for stronger security guarantees in Naga-inhabited areas. They have called for concrete measures to protect civilians facing intimidation and armed movements [5, 10]. Furthermore, the UNC leaders expressed concern that these incidents could undermine the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process, referencing the 2015 Framework Agreement [8, 11]. They urged the Union government to honor this agreement and to stop treating armed aggression against Naga civilians as mere local disturbances [5, 8]. The article also touches upon the broader context of ethnic violence in Manipur, which erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, resulting in significant casualties and displacement [4, 16]. The involvement of various armed groups and the complex inter-ethnic dynamics are highlighted, with the UNC specifically accusing some Kuki armed groups of waging a "proxy war" against the Nagas [10, 11]. In response to the killings, Naga organizations have enforced an economic blockade along National Highway-2, disrupting the movement of essential commodities in protest and demanding justice [25, 29]. The Manipur government has reportedly handed over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), though no arrests have been made thus far [31]. The New Indian Express, the source of the primary article, is generally rated as Mostly Factual by Media Bias/Fact Check, with a Left-Center bias [9]. The Reporters' Collective, mentioned in the related articles, is an independent investigative journalism platform known for its rigorous research and fact-based reporting [18, 22, 24, 26]. However, some sources critically analyze The Reporters' Collective, labeling it as potentially biased and funded by external entities [23]. The verification process confirms the core claims of the article: the UNC's appeal to the Prime Minister, their demand for a judicial probe, and the context of the killings within the ongoing Manipur conflict. The details regarding the abduction and recovery of bodies are corroborated across multiple news reports. The article's tone is not sensationalized and accurately reflects the demands and concerns of the Naga body.

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