Overview
- Security forces, which expanded joint operations Monday, are combing hill ranges near Leilon Vaiphei and Kharam Vaiphei and conducting searches in Senapati to find the remaining hostages.
- Following the May 13 ambush that killed three Thadou church leaders, reciprocal abductions led to releases on May 14–15, yet community bodies report 20 people still missing, commonly listed as 14 Kuki and six Naga.
- The United Naga Council announced an indefinite economic blockade Sunday night and Kuki Inpi Manipur extended a shutdown through this week, choking traffic on National Highway‑2 and leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.
- Church delegations met the chief minister Monday and set out to Kangpokpi and Senapati to press for humanitarian releases and calm, complementing talks led by the two deputy chief ministers and civil society groups.
- Travellers on NH‑2 report shortages of food, fuel and sanitation, and long fuel queues formed in Imphal as closures spread, raising the risk of broader supply crunches if the highway lifeline stays blocked.