WHERE ARE OUR BROTHERS?
The Powerful Sea of Umbrellas in Jalukie Demands Justice for 6 Abducted Nagas
NEWire Desk • 29 May 2026
Kohima: Under a hot May sky, thousands of people stand shoulder-to-shoulder, creating a massive, colourful shield of umbrellas at Jalukie Town Square today. They are not gathered to celebrate, nor are they there simply to escape the sun. They have taken over the streets because six of their brothers have vanished into thin air, and the silence surrounding their fate is deafening.
Today, May 29, 2026, the Zeliangrong Baudi (Nagaland), alongside an array of civil society, women's groups, and student organizations, led a massive Public Mass Rally. The message echoing from the Jalukie Town Square clock tower is loud, clear, and non-negotiable: Release our 6 Naga brothers immediately and unconditionally.
The Nightmare That Began on May 13
To understand the raw emotion and gravity behind today's massive turnout, looking back to the terrifying events of May 13, 2026:
The Incident: Armed miscreants intercepted and took a group of Naga civilians hostage, alledgedly at Leilon Vaiphei village in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur.
The Victims: While some women and children were eventually released, six innocent Naga men, including respected local church leaders were held back in captivity.
The Current Status: It has been more than two weeks. Despite intense public outcry and the case officially being handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the whereabouts of these six men remain dangerously unknown.
The families of these men are living through an unimaginable nightmare. Every passing second without news is a second filled with terror. Are they being fed? Are they safe? Are they even alive? These are the questions haunting the entire Nagas.
A Unified Stand Across State Borders
While the abduction took place in the Naga hills of Manipur under Kangpokpi district, the pain, anxiety, and outrage have shattered state lines, uniting people across Nagaland and Assam. Today’s mass rally proved that when one part of the community bleeds, the entire community stands up.
People from all walks of life arrived in Jalukie Town wearing their traditional attire to show solidarity. Businesses closed their doors, transport ground to a halt, and thousands stood under the midday heat. The sheer scale of the protest sends a direct message to both state and central governments:
This is no longer just a local law-and-order issue. This is a severe humanitarian crisis.
"Since childhood, we have been taught that the government protects its people. Yet when we are in desperate need, where has the government gone? Aren't we citizens of India? We don't know whether our Naga brothers are still alive or not." - A poignant cry from local women leaders leading in one of the many recent protests.
The Government's Response: Arrests But No Answers
Recently, Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh visited relief camps and confirmed that four suspects allegedly involved in the kidnapping have been arrested. While the arrests are a step in the right direction, they offer very little comfort to the grieving families. Arrests do not equal a safe return. Public trust is wearing incredibly thin, especially as regional apex bodies trade denials and counter-claims regarding who is holding the hostages. The Zeliangrong Baudi has fiercely rejected these denials, calling them a blatant attempt to shield the criminals.
Disclaimer: The views and facts expressed here are solely those of the independent citizen journalist, researcher, and others, who assume full responsibility for the content's accuracy and legality. Any third-party media (images, videos, or audio) used belongs to its respective owners and is shared strictly for reporting, criticism, or review under the "Fair Dealing" provisions of Section 52 of the Copyright Act, 1957 (India).
NEWire.in does not claim ownership over such material.
*Copy Paste