Church leaders meet with the Naga group in an attempt to mend fences with the Kuki-Zo

A 10-member team of church leaders representing four national and global organizations began a peace mission in Manipur by meeting leaders of the Naga apex body as its Kuki counterpart extended the shutdown for another 48 hours from Tuesday (May 19, 2026) midnight.

Church officials represent the Manipur Convention (MBC), the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI), the Asia-Pacific Baptist Federation and the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). They met United Naga Council (UNC) leaders in Senapati, one of four hill districts caught in the conflict between the primarily Christian Kuki-Zo and Naga communities.

Reverend Namseng R. Marak, secretary general of CBCNEI, told reporters that he was focused on easing the hostage crisis sparked by the May 13 killing of three church leaders by Thada. A section of Thadoua claims to be a tribe independent of the Kuki tag.

“This is a difficult time for the affected families. We appeal to all communities to exercise restraint, remain patient and move forward in a spirit of forgiveness and peace,” he said, hoping that the Kuki and Naga communities would support “brotherhood and humanity” to restore peace in Manipur.

AC Thotso, member-secretary of the UNC Working Committee, welcomed the peace initiative of the church leaders. He said the matter would be reviewed by the organization’s relevant decision-making bodies, reiterating that “peace can only prevail when the truth is recognized.”

Another team of church leaders visited the families of the three slain church leaders in Keithelmanbi and Damdei villages in Kangpokpi District to express their condolences.

The Kukis control Kangpokpi district, where church officials were ambushed and killed by unidentified gunmen. Nagas form the majority in Senapati district, which borders the state of Nagaland.

The visit by church leaders to the conflict-affected districts followed a meeting with Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh in the state capital Imphal on Monday.

Shutdown extended

As tension prevailed in the hill areas, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) extended its shutdown in the Kuki-Zo populated areas by 48 hours from Tuesday midnight. This is the second extension since the shutdown was imposed on May 13.

“The decision follows the government’s continued inaction in addressing the legitimate concerns and demands placed before it, as well as the absence of any tangible positive developments on the ground,” KIM said in a statement.

The demands include an investigation into the killing of three high-level church leaders and the release of 14 people from the Kuki tribe, including three minor students, allegedly held captive by Naga groups.

Naga organizations have also intensified their demand for the release of six members of the community, including a pastor, allegedly held hostage by Kuki extremists.

A delegation of Liangmai Naga Council and Liangmai Naga Women’s Union urged the Chief Minister to seek the release of the six missing Naga men from Konsakhul village in Kangpokpi district. “If the hostages are dead, their bodies should be handed over to their respective families to allow them to perform the last rites,” the organizations said.

Meanwhile, Thadou Community International (TCI) has expressed its support for Thadou Inpi Manipur’s proposal to create a community understanding between the Thadou and Naga communities, based on mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, similar to the existing understanding with the Meitei community.

The TCI argued that the Kuki was not an ethnic community or ethnicity, but a term “characterized as a violent, radical ideological entity”.

Published – 19 May 2026 22:39 IST