Manipur's Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho announced ongoing negotiations to secure the release of 44 hostages taken by Kuki and Naga groups in the Kangpokpi and Senapati districts. The hostages, including an infant and two Naga Catholic trainee priests, were abducted following the May 13 killings of three church leaders, which Dikho described as 'unprecedented' in the context of previous conflicts. He noted that the church leaders were attacked while returning from a religious convention, emphasizing that such incidents had not occurred before, even during heightened tensions. Currently, 28 Kuki hostages are involved, with some already released. The situation remains complicated as ethnic violence continues to escalate in the region, with over 260 fatalities reported since 2023 due to conflicts primarily between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, now extending to tensions with Naga groups. Despite ongoing discussions, no group has claimed responsibility for the church leaders' killings, and investigations are ongoing to determine the perpetrators.