Imphal, May 19 (IANS) A day after meeting Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, a 10-member team of church leaders on Tuesday visited Naga-inhabited Senapati district as part of efforts to defuse the ongoing ethnic tensions between the Naga and Kuki tribal communities.

A Manipur government official said that during the visit, the church leaders met representatives of the United Naga Council, the Naga People’s Organisation, and other civil society organisations at the United Naga Council office in Senapati district.

The meeting focused on the prevailing tense situation between the two tribal communities in the region.

Deliberations were also held on ways to ease the current crisis arising out of the hostage incident following the killing of three church leaders on May 13.

Following the interaction, the church leaders strongly appealed for the unconditional release of hostages from both sides on humanitarian grounds.

Speaking to the media, Rev. Dr. Namseng R. Marak, Secretary General of the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India, said that this was a difficult moment for the affected families and appealed to all communities to exercise restraint, remain patient, and move forward in the spirit of forgiveness and peace.

He said that the church leaders had already appealed to both the Naga and Kuki communities and expressed hope that positive outcomes would emerge from the discussions held with the United Naga Council leaders.

Marak also urged people not to believe rumours or unverified social media posts and called upon all communities to uphold brotherhood and humanity for the restoration of peace in Manipur.

A.C. Thotso, Member Secretary of the Working Committee of the United Naga Council, said that the Baptist leaders had brought a joint appeal from the Baptist World Alliance, the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India, and the Manipur Baptist Convention.

He welcomed the peace initiative taken by the church leaders and said that the matter would be considered by the appropriate decision-making bodies of the organisation.

He reiterated that peace can prevail only when truth is acknowledged.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Singh met the church leaders on Monday at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and appreciated their efforts towards bringing peace and harmony among various communities in the state.

Another group of church leaders also visited the families of the victims in the Keithelmanbi and Damdei villages in Kangpokpi district to offer condolences.

The 10-member delegation comprised church leaders representing the Manipur Baptist Convention, the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India, the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, and the Baptist World Alliance.

More than 40 people belonging to the Kuki and Naga communities were held hostage by various groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts following the killing of three Baptist church leaders and the injuring of four others in Kangpokpi district on May 13.

However, 30 people from both communities were released on May 14 and 15 following sustained efforts by the authorities, community leaders, and various civil society organisations, an official said.

–IANS

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