Three senior leaders of the Thado Baptist Association (TBA) were killed and four others injured on Wednesday when militants ambushed two vehicles on the road between Kangpokpi and Churachandpur in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, blocking major roads and deepening the crisis in the ethnic strife-torn state.
The victims were returning to Kangpokpi from a TBA conference in Churachandpur when the attack occurred between Kotzim and Kotlin. Eight people were traveling in the two vehicles. One escaped unharmed.
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The dead were identified as V Sitlhou, leader of the Thadou Baptist Society – Thadou being the Kuki-Zo community – and former general secretary of the Manipur Baptist Conference, and two pastors – Kaigoulun Lhouvum and Paogoulen Sitlhou.
Violence also claimed one life in Noni district on Wednesday, where a man was shot dead and two others injured after gunmen ambushed a car at around 6:20pm between Nongsay and Gogangtek districts within the limits of Kubum police station. The victims were traveling in a Bolero when the attack occurred. The deceased, Wilson Thanga, 52, a resident of Dulang Chiru village, was hit by two bullets on the spot. His wife, Thurithi Thanga, 48, and the driver, Olive Gatung, 42, from Dulana Shiru village, were injured and were taken to the health care center in Kubum.
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The victims belonged to the Chiru community, a Naga tribe.
Prime Minister Yomnam Kemchand, who visited the injured at Shija Hospitals in Imphal West along with Deputy Prime Minister Lucy Dekho, Home Minister Govindas Kunthugam, local and other officials, condemned the first attack and termed it an “act of terrorism”. The state government said it would bear all medical expenses of the injured and directed authorities to ensure they receive the “highest standard of care.”
Kemchand urged an immediate stop to communal violence. He added: “I assure the people that we will use all state resources to bring the perpetrators and their supervisors to justice.”
Thadou authorities have imposed an indefinite total closure on Imphal-Dimapur National Highway 2 with immediate effect. The Kuki Students Organization (KSO) and Zomi Students Federation (ZSF) also condemned the attack and announced an indefinite lockdown in Churachandpur district.
The Kuki Zo Council, a body affiliated with Kuki, claimed that the attackers were cadres of the Zeliangroun United Front-Kamson (ZUF-Kamson) faction and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isaak Muivah (NSCN-IM) faction. Both organizations denied their involvement.
The ZUF said there was “only one legitimate ZUF” and described the ZUF-Kamson designation as a “fabricated” name that was “maliciously used by the NSCN-IM to mislead the public and defame the Zeliangrong people.” NSCN-IM also denied responsibility.
The United Naga Council (UNC), an apex Naga body, condemned the attack and said the situation took another turn in the hours that followed. “In an alarming turn of events a few hours after this ambush, approximately 20 survivors from the Konsakul village were reported to be being held hostage by the Lilon Fifei Kuki village,” the UN Command said. “We are not able to understand this action by Lelon Faife which appears to be in response to the above incident which the Nagas have unreservedly condemned as fellow Christians.”
The Kuki Human Rights Organization (KOHUR) demanded action against the perpetrators and requested free compensation for the families of the murdered church leaders and drivers.
In a separate incident, Tavo Kuki village authority chief Linkomang Chongloy on Wednesday sought the registration of an FIR, alleging that 23 villagers were detained and eight vehicles seized at a petrol station in Rekomay Tavo and Viamai Tavo, in Senapati district.
