IMPHAL, June 11 -- Security forces in Manipur recovered the mortal remains of six people, believed to be Naga hostages captured by Kuki militants last month, following an extensive search on Wednesday, a day after 14 Kuki civilians held by Naga groups were set free. This is the largest casualty in the strife-torn state since November 11, 2024, in which 11 armed militants were killed in a gunfight between armed Kuki volunteers with the CRPF in Manipur's Jiribam district. While an official death toll in the three-year-long violence is yet to be provided by the government, an RTI response to senior Congress Hareshwar Goshwami revealed that the government has provided ex-gratia to families of 217 victims as of March this year. Manipur police confirmed that the mortal remains found on Wednesday afternoon are believed to be the six Nagas who were abducted earlier. "After nearly 24 hours of sustained search operations involving around 450 personnel of the Manipur Police, CRPF, and Assam Rifles, assisted by sniffer dogs and forensic expert teams, the mortal remains of six persons were recovered this afternoon," the police said on social media. "The deceased are believed to be among those taken hostage from Leilon Vaiphei on May 13, 2026. Necessary legal formalities are being carried out by the police, and the investigation is underway," the police added. Officials requesting anonymity stated that the mortal remains were handed over to Assam Rifles personnel as mutilated bodies. The identification of the bodies could only be done through DNA testing. The six Naga individuals identified as Manu Thiumai, Kenpibou, Phenrongwi Thiumai, Dilip Thiumai, Kaliwangbou Abonmai and Ch Phenrilung were untraceable since May 13. The bodies were not able to reach the morgue of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Science (JNIMS), Porompat, Imphal East as hundreds of protestors have gathered at the hospital. Kacheak Liu, 39, said her husband, Manu, 40, and her brother-in-law, Dilip, 39, were among six people killed. She told HT that on May 13, their convoy was stopped by locals in Kangpokpi, who handed them over to militants. "Those who stopped our vehicles were locals, all civilians. They did not have any guns. They separated the men from the women and children. The men were taken to the jungle up in the hills. That is the last time I saw my husband and his brother, Dilip," Liu said. "Meanwhile, we were taken to a local school by the villagers and then to a community hall. Our phones were taken, we were blindfolded and handed over to the militants," she added. Liu said the women and children were later driven about 20-25 minutes into a forested area but could not identify the location because they remained blindfolded. Paiyso, the youngest sibling of the two deceased Naga men, Manu and Dilip Thiumai, said the family learned about the case being transferred to the NIA only from newspapers. "But to date, neither the police nor the NIA has contacted us. All we want is justice for our brothers and peace in Manipur," Paiyso said. Manu and Dilip on May 13 were returning from Paisyo's wedding in Kangpokpi when they were abducted along with their wives and children. In statement on Wednesday, chief minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the killings and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. "The Government will not tolerate such brutal violence and will not remain a mute spectator to these atrocities. Culprits responsible for the murder will be arrested and punished as per the law of the land," the CM's statement read. The United Naga Council (UNC) in a statement on Wednesday said that the mortal remains of the six Naga hostages will not be received until their charter of demands are addressed and families of the murdered hostages get justice by the state government and the Centre. The UNC's demands include abrogation of Suspension of Operation(SoO) agreement with all Kuki militant groups, arrest and prosecution of Kuki National Front-President (KNF-P) personnel allegedly involved in the abduction and killings, and declaration of KNF-P as a terrorist organisation. It also demanded the removal of deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen, wife of Thangboi Kipgen, who, the UNC alleges, is the president of KNF-P....