Three Church leaders belonging to the Thadou Baptist Association were shot dead and several others injured after unidentified armed men ambushed their vehicles in Kangpokpi, triggering fresh tension in the region.

The deceased were identified as Rev V Sitlhou, Rev V Kaigoulun, and Pastor Paogoulen.

According to reports, the Church leaders were travelling in two vehicles from Churachandpur to Kangpokpi after attending a TBA conference in Lamka when the attack occurred along the Kangpokpi–Lamka road.

At least five others sustained injuries in the ambush and are undergoing treatment. The injured include Rev SM Haopu, Rev Hekai Simte, Rev Paothang, and two drivers identified as Lelen and Goumang.

The Kuki Students’ Organisation stated that all the victims were Baptist Church leaders belonging to the Kuki community. In a social media statement, the organisation alleged that a Naga armed group carried out the ambush while the victims were returning from the UBC Convention in Lamka.

The organisation demanded an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident.

Following the killings, the KSO Churachandpur unit announced an indefinite emergency shutdown from Wednesday afternoon, alleging failure by security agencies to prevent attacks by armed groups. However, medical emergencies, media operations, electricity services, and religious functions have been exempted from the shutdown.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur, one of the apex bodies of the Kuki community in Manipur, on Wednesday called for a three-day total shutdown across all Kuki-Zo inhabited areas of the state following the killing of three Baptist Church leaders in Kangpokpi district.​

Kuki Inpi Manipur Secretary for Information and Publicity Janghaolun Haokip strongly condemned the killings and expressed profound grief over the deaths of Rev V Sitlhou, Rev Kaigoulun, and Pastor Paogoulen, while five others sustained injuries in what the organisation described as a “barbaric attack”.​

In a statement, Haokip alleged that the attack was carried out by the ZUF-Kamson faction in collusion with other armed groups.​

“Such heinous and inhumane acts committed against Church leaders have deeply wounded the sentiments of the Kuki-Zo people,” the statement said.​

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Following the incident, Kuki Inpi Manipur convened an emergency meeting and adopted several resolutions as a mark of public mourning, solidarity, and respect for the deceased.​

According to the organisation, the shutdown would come into effect from midnight on May 13 and continue until midnight on May 15 in all Kuki-Zo-inhabited areas of the state.​

Kuki Inpi Manipur also announced a two-day nationwide mourning by the Kuki-Zo community in honour of the deceased Church leaders.​

During the shutdown period, all business establishments, government offices, private institutions, schools, and vehicular movement would remain closed.​

However, emergency services, including airport operations, medical facilities, fire and emergency services, and other essential humanitarian services, would remain exempted.​

The organisation further announced that candlelight vigils would be organised by churches on Wednesday evening to remember the victims and pray for justice, peace, and healing.​

Kuki Inpi Manipur appealed to all Kuki-Zo people, civil society organisations, churches, student bodies, women’s organisations, and concerned citizens to strictly observe the shutdown and mourning programme in solidarity with the victims.​

Security has been intensified in Kangpokpi and other Kuki-Zo inhabited areas following the attack.

(with IANS inputs)