Indigenous Women Forum of North East India (IWFNEI) Thursday made a fervent appeal to the leaders of KPLT to release the seven workers of Longnit Mini Hydro Electric Project, who were taken hostage for ransom from their place of work since June 10.

The hostages included two Nagas who have been identified as Kelesel Kikhi and Khroviho Kikhi of Viswema village under Kohima district, Nagaland.

While denouncing acts of human rights violation by both state and non-state actors, IWFNEI convenor Khesheli Chishi and co-convenor Seema Ronghapi said that almost every armed groups or forces operating in Northeast had the tendency to target innocent civilians.

The forum requested the responsible to release the hostages and negotiate their “points of views” across the table without victimizing the innocents.