KZVV Welcomes Release of 14 Hostages, Questions 'Selective Morality

Lamka, June 10, 2026: The Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers (KZVV), Western Command, has welcomed the release of 14 abducted Kuki-Zo civilians but asserted that innocent civilians should never have been taken hostage in the first place.

In a press statement issued on June 10, KZVV said the release of civilians was a positive development, but argued that freeing people who should not have been abducted cannot be regarded as an extraordinary act. The organisation stated that such actions represent the minimum moral obligation expected of any society.

The group also questioned what it described as the selective application of humanitarian principles, asking where calls for "war ethics" and human rights were when Kuki-Zo civilians were allegedly being killed in a series of incidents over recent months.

According to KZVV, between March and June 2026, twelve Kuki-Zo individuals, including an unborn child, lost their lives in incidents allegedly involving Naga assailants. The organisation said the victims included villagers, pastors, parents and other civilians whose deaths did not receive the same level of attention now being given to humanitarian concerns.

The statement recalled the March 12, 2026 killing of two Kuki-Zo villagers, Thangboimang Lunkim and Thenkhogin Baite, who were allegedly captured and murdered by cadres of the NSCN Eastern Flank while working on farming activities and repairing a community water supply line. KZVV noted that, in response, Kuki-Zo villagers detained 21 Tangkhul civilians but later released all of them unharmed within twelve hours, citing humanitarian considerations and efforts to prevent further escalation.

KZVV also highlighted the killing of three Christian ministers—Rev. V. Sithlhou, Pastor Paogoulen and Rev. Kaigoulen—on May 13, 2026, describing the incident as particularly painful for the community. The organisation stated that despite public anger following the killings, Kuki civil society groups ensured the safe passage of Naga travellers along National Highway-1 and facilitated the release of detainees.

The organisation maintained that justice and compassion should be applied equally to all communities and warned against what it termed "selective outrage" and "hypocrisy disguised as virtue."

KZVV further called on all concerned parties to acknowledge every innocent life lost, regardless of community affiliation, and to pursue justice without fear, favour or bias. The statement emphasized the need for equal concern for all victims and urged stakeholders to avoid selective responses to violence and humanitarian issues.

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