Manipur Violence: Suspected militants shot dead three church leaders and injured four others in Kangpokpi district, while a civilian was shot dead and his wife injured in Manipur’s Noney district, officials said on May 13.
The Kangpokpi incident occurred in the early hours of May 13 at a spot between Kotzim and Kotlen villages when Thadou Baptist Association (TBA) members were returning from Churachandpur after visiting a religious congregation, news agency PTI reported.
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The second incident occurred at a location between Jouzangtek and Nungsai villages in Noney district around 8:00 p.m.
After the attack in Kangpokpi, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh said such “senseless acts of violence” against innocent civilians threatened peace in Manipur, which has been rocked by ethnic violence since 2023.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India expressed grief over the killings and called on all communities to avoid violence and reprisals. The CBCI said in a statement that on May 13, two vehicles carrying Thadou Baptist Association (TBA) leaders were ambushed between Kotzim and Kotlen villages, killing several people and injuring others.
Shutdown in Kangpokpi
A total lockdown was ordered in the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district following the killings. The Naga Legislators’ Forum and the Kuki Organization also condemned the killing, while the Meitei group rejected accusations from some quarters that they were behind the ambush.
Police said the suspected gunmen ambushed two vehicles in which the church leaders were traveling.
Reverend V Sitlhour, former general secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention, was among those killed. The other two deceased were identified as Reverend Kaigoulen and Pastor Paogoulen, they said.
Chief Minister Khemchand Singh said three of the injured were admitted to Shija Hospitals and Research Institute in Imphal. Along with Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, he visited the injured in hospital.
“The state government will bear all medical expenses for the injured and I have directed the authorities to ensure that they are given the highest level of care,” Singh said in a statement.
“This act of violence is deeply disturbing and devastating not only to the families but to the entire state as it disrupts our path to peace. Our state is gradually moving towards peace; therefore, actions that undermine this collective effort of our people to restore normalcy are unacceptable,” he said.
Emphasizing that there is no justification for acts of terrorism in any society, the CM said that the people of the entire state stand together against such an act of terrorism.
“Our determination to fight terrorism is unshakable,” he said, appealing to all sections of society to maintain peace, exercise restraint and refrain from emotional reactions.
Kangpokpi witnessed violence in January last year when a protest rally organized by the Committee for Tribal Unity (CoTU) turned violent after protesters allegedly attacked the office of the District Superintendent of Police.
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“I further called on the people to immediately stop kidnapping, hostage-taking and intimidation on communal lines. This can only worsen the situation. I assure the people that we will use all the means of the state to bring the perpetrators and their handlers to justice,” he said.
Meghalaya, Mizoram CMs condemn
The chief ministers of Meghalaya and Mizoram condemned the murder, calling the attack a “senseless act of violence” and calling for immediate action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Mizoram’s main opposition, the Mizo National Front (MNF), also condemned the killings in the neighboring state’s Kangpokpi district and demanded strict punishment for the culprits.
Both Meghalaya and Mizoram are Christian-majority states in the northeastern region.
In a statement in Shillong, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said: “The victims, who were respected members of the Kuki Baptist community and associated with the Manipur Baptist Convention and the Kuki Church Leaders Forum, dedicated their lives to spiritual leadership, peace-building and service to humanity.”
Sangma said the brutal and cowardly killings are deeply disturbing and totally unacceptable in any civilized society.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma expressed deep grief over the killing of church leaders.
“Deeply saddened and saddened by the brutal killing of Kuki church leaders in Manipur. Such heinous violence is totally condemnable and unacceptable,” he said in a post on X.
“An Act of Cold-Blooded Murder”
The Naga Legislatures Forum, comprising nine MLAs from the Naga community in Manipur, said in a statement: “This act of cold-blooded murder of an unarmed and peaceful religious leader is unacceptable and we urge the law enforcement agencies to trace and book the culprits as soon as possible.”
The Meitei Arambai Tenggol organization denied any role in the attack. In a statement, she called the accusations of her involvement “baseless and politically motivated.”
Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex body of the Kuki tribe in the state, also condemned the incident.
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“Rev V Sitlhou is a respected church leader and peacemaker who recently led a peace mission along with the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) in Kohima to promote peace, reconciliation and mutual understanding between the Kuki-Zo and Tangkhul communities,” the statement said.
This act of violence is deeply disturbing and devastating not only to the families but to the entire state as it disrupts our path to peace.
The Zomi Student Federation – General Headquarters condemned the attack on church leaders and civilians and announced the closure of the city districts from 18:00 until further notice.
Manipur has witnessed the killing of at least 260 people and the displacement of thousands since May 2023 in violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
