IMPHAL/UKHRUL: The Thadou Students’ Association (TSA) on Sunday condemned the killing of three Thadou church leaders in an ambush at the Kotlen–Kotzim inter-village road in Kangpokpi district on May 13 and accused the Manipur government of “criminal neglect”, “terror shielding” and discrimination against the Thadou community.
In a media release, the TSA said the ambush killed Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou, TBAI Finance Secretary Rev. Kaigoulun Lhouvum and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou, besides injuring five others. The association termed the attack a “barbaric terrorist ambush” and said the government had failed to take any meaningful action even five days after the incident.
The TSA thanked Assam Rifles personnel led by Major Sahil Rishi and Captain Nando Babu for rescuing the victims and criticised the Manipur Police for what it described as a total collapse of policing and counter-insurgency response.
The association also questioned the silence of Deputy Chief Ministers Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho over the killings, alleging bias and abandonment of the Thadou community. It further accused the state government of appeasing “Kuki-Zo supremacist groups”.
The TSA alleged that injured victims were pressured to shift from Shija Hospital in Imphal to Kangpokpi Civil Hospital soon after surgery, calling it “inhuman” and discriminatory.
It further alleged that some Kuki organisations attempted to pressure survivors into blaming Naga groups for the ambush and demanded protection for the survivors.
The association demanded that the case be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), security be provided to surviving victims, action be taken against organisations accused of intimidation, and the Director General of Police be removed.
The TSA also said the Thadou community buried the victims peacefully and rejected attempts to politicise the deaths.
