New Delhi: In another flare-up in violence-torn Manipur, three Kuki church leaders and a driver, who were on their way from Churachandpur to Kangpokpi, were killed after their vehicle was allegedly ambushed by suspected armed militants from the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), an active Naga insurgent group, in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district Wednesday.
Their vehicle came under attack between Kotlen and Kotzim villages along the Imphal–Tamenglong highway, police sources said.
The church leaders, from the Thadou Baptist Association (TBA), were reportedly travelling to Kangpokpi from Churachandpur after attending a TBA conference, police said.
Among those killed was Rev. V. Sitlhou, TBA president and former general secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention.
The others killed were identified as Rev. Kaigoulun, Pastor Paogoulen, and Lelen, the driver. “They were returning after a conference when their vehicle was ambushed on Tiger Road by a group of armed militants suspected to be from the ZUF. There was indiscriminate firing, which led to the deaths of three people, while one person was seriously injured. Another four also sustained minor injuries,” a senior police officer told ThePrint.
Following the attack, there were reports of at least 10 people from the Naga community being taken hostage. In retaliation, some Kukis were also allegedly taken hostage by the Naga community.
“We have received reports that both Nagas and Kukis have taken hostages following this attack. We have sent forces to verify the inputs and ensure their release from both sides,” the officer said.
‘Premeditated act of terrorism’
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) condemned the attack, accusing cadres of the NSCN-IM of carrying it out, and termed it a “premeditated act of terrorism”.
“This was done in active collusion with the ZUF, on a delegation of senior Kuki church leaders travelling from Churachandpur to Kangpokpi for an inter-association ecclesiastical meeting. This was not an incident. It was not an unfortunate encounter. It was a premeditated act of terrorism aimed squarely at the heart of Kuki peace-making—and it must be named for what it is,” the organisation said in a statement.
The group further said that the victims were not combatants.
According to Kuki groups, the men had been travelling to hold a reconciliation meeting aimed at mediating between the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities.
“They were not political figures. They were unarmed servants of God who had laboured day and night, often at the cost of their personal safety, to build a bridge of reconciliation between the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities,” the statement said.
“They were instrumental in convening the recent peace consultation in Nagaland under the auspices of the Nagaland Christian Forum—a fragile but vital initiative that the NSCN-IM has now answered with bullets,” it added.
Naga Forum condemns the killings
The Naga Legislature Forum (NLF) based in Manipur strongly condemned the killing and violence committed by militants Wednesday. “This act of cold-blooded murder of unarmed and peace loving, religious leaders is unacceptable and we urge the law enforcement agencies to trace and book the culprit at the earliest,” read their statement.
The NLF expressed their condolences for the relatives and friends of Rev. Vumthang Silhou Fomer General Secretary, Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC), Pastor Paogou & Pastor Kaigoulien and wished speedy recovery of the three injured persons.
The NLF requested the people of Manipur to exercise restraint and work together at bring peace and harmony to the violence striken state. “We also appeal for the safe release of the civilians, both Naga and Kukis, who have been detained unharmed at the earliest,” their statement said.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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