Imphal, May 24 -- Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday said the case relating to the abduction of six Naga villagers by armed militants would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), even as he appealed to Kuki groups to help secure the release of the hostages.

The announcement came during a meeting between the chief minister and a six-member delegation of the United Naga Council (UNC), an apex Naga body, at his official residence in Imphal, according to a statement issued by the chief minister's secretariat.

The statement said the UNC delegation urged the government to intensify efforts to trace the six Naga villagers abducted from Konsakhul village in Kangpokpi district. "The Chief Minister infor...