India, May 19 -- Shutdowns and an indefinite blockade over the hostage crisis continued to disrupt normal lives in the hill districts of violence-hit Manipur, even as two church teams visited Kangpokpi and Senapati districts to try and broker peace between the Kuki and Naga communities.

United Naga Council (UNC), an apex body, on Sunday criticised the state government over the failure to rescue the remaining six Naga hostages from the custody of Kuki groups. It launched an "inter-district economic blockade" along the national highways in Manipur's Naga areas until the safe rescue and release of the hostages.

On May 14, the UNC issued an ultimatum to the Manipur government demanding the immediate release of the hostages. A day later, 14 ...