UKHRUL: The killing of Thadou Baptist Association (TBA) church leaders in Kangpokpi district has drawn strong condemnation from leaders in Manipur as well as neighbouring Meghalaya and Nagaland, with calls for peace, restraint, and swift justice.
Nemcha Kipgen, Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, expressed deep anguish over the ambush that occurred between Kotzim and Kotlen villages. In her statement, she said she was “deeply pained” by the tragic incident in which church leaders and civilians returning from a religious gathering lost their lives. She extended heartfelt condolences to the families of Rev. Vumthang Sitlhou, President of TBA and former General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention, Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou, and Pastor Kaigoulun Lhouvum. She also prayed for the recovery of those injured and urged people to stand together in peace, compassion, and unity. Kipgen reaffirmed that the government remains committed to maintaining peace and ensuring justice for the victims.
Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Manipur’s Chief Minister, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an act of terrorism carried out by armed miscreants against civilians between Kotlen and Kotzim areas. He said the attack claimed three innocent lives and left four others injured. According to the Chief Minister, three of the injured were shifted to Shija Hospitals and Research Institute in Imphal for treatment, where he, along with Deputy Chief Minister Shri Losi Dikho, Home Minister Shri Govindas Konthoujam, MLAs, and officials, visited them to assess their condition.
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The Chief Minister assured that the State government would bear all medical expenses and directed authorities to provide the best possible treatment. Calling the violence “deeply troubling and devastating,” he said such acts threaten the state’s gradual progress toward peace and normalcy. He asserted that terrorism and violence against innocent civilians have no place in a civilized society and reiterated the government’s resolve to fight terrorism. He also appealed to the public to maintain peace, avoid emotional reactions, and stop acts of abduction, intimidation, and hostage-taking along community lines, warning that such actions would further aggravate the situation. He assured that the State would use every available resource to bring those responsible to justice.
Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, condemned the attack in a post on X, saying he was “deeply disturbed and anguished” by the violence targeting TBA church leaders in Kangpokpi district. He stated that attacks against leaders working for peace, unity, and brotherhood were unacceptable and deserved the strongest condemnation. Sangma urged the authorities in Manipur to take immediate and strict action against those responsible.
Similarly, Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland, also denounced the killing of the Kuki church leaders, describing the incident as “barbaric violence against innocent lives.” In his statement on X, Rio said such acts have no place in any civilized society and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and the church community during their time of grief.