Guwahati, May 17 -- Reported by Bit Irom

Imphal: The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex Naga body in Manipur, has extended its ultimatum deadline to 6:00 PM on May 17 to trace six Naga men allegedly held hostage by suspected Kuki armed groups.

The extension follows assurances from the state Home Department that extensive combing and area domination operations are underway.

While 14 Naga hostages have been released, the six men have remained untraced since a May 13 ambush in Kangpokpi district, which also resulted in the deaths of three church leaders.

The UNC's decision to extend the deadline was formalised after it received an official letter from the Manipur Home Department detailing ongoing search operations coordinated by the dis...