Manipur News: An armed ambush killed at least three church leaders from the Kuki tribe in Manipur. The attack, happened in the Kangokpi district during the early hours of Wednesday. Communal tensions have been prevalent in the state for over three years now.
Who Were the Three People Killed
The three victims were church leaders from the Kuki tribe, belonging to the Thadou Baptist Association. They have been identified as Reverend V Sitlhou, Reverend Kaigoulen and Pastor Paogoulen. Reverend Sitlhou, who previously served as the general secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention, was allegedly involved in regional peace efforts.
The Kukis are a major ethnic group that live in the Northeastern states of India, along with Bangladesh and Myanmar. They have a big population in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.
Timeline of Events: What Happened During the Attack?
On Wednesday, a group of clergy men were travelling from Churachandpur to Kangpokpi, after attending a church meeting in Churachandpur. The group, which included church members from the Thadou Baptist Association and the United Baptist Council, was travelling via two vehicles.
The attack happened between Kotjim and Kotlen in Kangpokpi, according to local police. While no suspects have been arrested yet, it is believed that local militant groups were involved, although the investigation is still ongoing.
Some believe that the Kamsom Faction from the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) is involved. But the ZUF has refuted all such allegations. The armed ambush also left four people injured, in addition to the three casualties.
The Root Cause of the Conflict
The main cause of the violence is longstanding ethnic tension between the Meitei community, the Kuki tribe and the Naga tribe, all of whom are native to the North-east. Tension among the three communities has persisted for decades, driven by land ownership disputes, political representation, and ethnic mistrust.
Reactions from Local Tribal Bodies
Multiple Kuki bodies have condemned the attack. The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights (KOHUR) described the incident as a ‘premeditated act’, which the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) had carried out in collaboration.
While the Kuki Impi alleged that the ZUF was behind the attack. The Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) declared and ordered an indefinite shutdown in Kangokpi by afternoon. The United Naga Council condemned the attack but also blamed Kuki groups from the Konsakhul village for holding Naga members of the Leilon Vaiphei village hostage.
“Targeting innocent villagers and holding them hostage is unacceptable and violates all norms of civilised society,” the official statement from the United Naga Council read.
The Government’s Response
Multiple CMs from the Northeast reacted to the armed attack. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh convened an emergency meeting from 5:30 PM IST to discuss the attack.
“Such barbaric violence against innocent lives is unacceptable & has no place in any civilised society,” Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio posted in an official statement on microblogging platform X.
While Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma posted, “Such acts against leaders who work to foster peace, unity, and brotherhood are unacceptable and must be strongly condemned.” Sangma also urged his Manipuri counterpart to investigate the matter immediately.
