IMPHAL, MAY 18: In connection with the “cold blooded murder” of three Thadou church leaders on May 13, the United Naga Council (UNC) said today that the “non-involvement of non-Kuki armed group(s) in the killing spree is beyond any doubt but the facts virtually unmasks Kuki’s involvement in the killing which has an intra-fold character- between two non-Naga tribes belonging to controversial Kuki fold”.
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In a lengthy statement, the UNC said it has been vehemently and unequivocally condemned by all Naga civil society organisations and the “Naga national organisations across the length and breadth of Nagalim”. The Naga body said, “In this dark episode, Manipur has lost three noble warriors of peace and understanding within and between communities. The vacuum left by their departure will be really difficult to fill, it also said. “The UNC, on behalf of the Nagas and in the larger interest of the people of the state declares that we will lend support to all efforts to the course of law against the perpetrators of the heinous crime”. Following the “barbaric murder” of the three Thadou church leaders, the Kukis started accusing the Nagas of complicity in the murder and flooded social media platforms with the same standard tactics adopted by Kuki groups in the conflicts they have been engaged with the Meiteis since May 2023 and now with the Nagas from February 7, 2026 following the Nazi philosophy “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes truth”. The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM)’s condemnation released within 2 hours’ time of the ambush/killings, categorically naming the ZUF-Kamson group and NSCN-IM as perpetrators was dated 6/5/2026, pointed out the UNC. The speed and the tone of certainty of that release indicate prior knowledge, the Naga body further pointed out. There has not been any corrigendum till date on the incongruous date seven days ahead of the actual bloodletting day. “It is therefore understood that the KIM condemnation letter was drafted well in advance and released almost immediately after the gruesome murder”, alleged the UNC. “Does this not smack of complicity in the prior planning of the act?” it asked, adding, “It is now incumbent upon the KIM to furnish concrete proofs in the public domain on the complicity of Nagas in the murder as accused by them and to thereby prove absence of any prior knowledge of the crime and their absolute non-involvement in the heinous murder of the Thadou church leaders”.
The UNC then said it also took strong exception to the manner of response and action of the security forces including the “mighty Indian army” to the hostage taking incident immediately after the ambush on Thadou church leaders. The 57th Mountain Division at Leimakhong is located within 2 km of Konsakhul and Leilon Vaiphei villages and as their duty calls should have made hot pursuit after the Kuki militants and rescued the Naga hostages on May 13, 2026 itself, said the UNC. “We are also dissatisfied with the security arrangement for the vulnerable Naga areas, which are seen as discriminatory and highly inadequate in terms of numbers and strategic/security concerns”, it added.
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The UNC then said the State and the Central authorities should immediately disarm and confine the Kuki Suspension of Operation (SoO) militants to their designated camps as per the terms of the SoO agreement to curb their incessant lawless activities and violence against the Meiteis and of late against the Nagas. “Should such measures by the authorities be found not feasible on the ground due to the militants’ incalcitrant defiance, the SoO agreement must of necessity be abrogated and the militants strictly subjected to the laws of the land”, it also said.
With regard to the “barbaric murder” of Thadou church leaders on May 13, 2026, it is pertinent to take note of the facts placed by the Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) in their official statement dated May 17, 2026 on the matter of the murder of the Thadou Church leaders, the UNC said there has been nearly six decade-old controversy over the ethnonym “Kuki” and “Thadou”, adding, “Each is ideological and goal-oriented”. According to the UNC, the question and controversy surrounding the instances of alleged imposition of “Kuki” label on the Thadous and their forward rejection is a fact, and that Dr. Rev. Vumthang Sitlhou, a strong leader who stood for Thadou identity was considered a hurdle to the process of building an umbrella Kuki identity and politicization, is a fact. The UNC then said an attempt to stand away and above the Kuki label is considered outside the demand for “separate administration.” The UNC further said KLA (L)’s warning to Kuki-Zo people not to meet the Chief Minister of Manipur in Churachandpur on May 15, 2026 is a fact. The Naga body said the visit to Churachandpur for religious matters by the victim’s party might have been perceived negatively as cordiality between the Thadous and the Zo people at that fluid instant juncture was considered as an act of defiance, the visit being undertaken while an announced warning was in effect. The UNC also said the place where the ambush took place is Kuki and their militants-dominated area where no infiltration of non-Kuki armed groups is possible, is also a fact. The Naga body further said the killing was precise. “Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou’s vehicle was hit the hardest. At least 15 bullets were recovered from his body. He was the primary target — a Thadou leader known for translating the Holy Bible ‘in Thadou,’ for establishing Thadou fellowships outside Manipur, and for publicly rejecting the May 9, 2026 ‘Kuki Zo Flag’ hoisting where his name was misused without consent”, the UNC added. The Naga body also said this rejection was an affront to the radical Kuki groups. The UNC then said a KRA/KNO “tax collection entry gate” sits just one kilometre from the ambush site, near an Army/Assam Rifles post. KRA/KNO is a Kuki SoO group that operates in the area, it further added.
The Naga body then said the question of “who has killed Nehkam Jomhao in Assam on August 30, 2025″ confronts the Kukis and the purveyors of lies. “Was he not a strong crusader of peace in Manipur and Thadou identity which cost his precious life to the bullet of the miscreants?”, it asked, adding, “It is perceived that the Thadou leaders are increasingly targeted by Kuki protagonists”. Therefore, the UNC urged the Kukis in particular and those others who have been lured into believing them to discontinue forthwith the spread of lies without proof of Naga complicity and involvement in the highly appalling murder of innocent apostles of peace. “Against the above facts, the non-involvement of non-Kuki armed group(s) in the killing spree is beyond any doubt but the facts virtually unmasks Kuki’s involvement in the killing which has an intra-fold character- between two non-Naga tribes belonging to controversial Kuki fold”, the UNC stated, adding, “We are encouraged by the emerging voices questioning the wild allegations hurled out without any substance and providing facts of events, situations and circumstances under which the crime took place”. Revealing information is slowly but surely emerging from reliable sources and the clinching picture will be soon visible to the world at large, said the UNC. “The truth will prevail and the poisonous fangs of lies and deceit will inevitably meet their destined and deserving ends”, it further added.