At least three Kuki Baptist church leaders were killed and several others injured in Manipur on Wednesday when armed groups ambushed their vehicles. The attack comes amid ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur State in far-northeast India, where clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities have continued since May 2023.
According to Indian Express, the leaders were killed while traveling from Churachandpur to Kangpokpi district in Manipur on Wednesday morning, May 13. The deceased were identified as Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou, Rev. Kaigoulun Lhouvum, and Pastor Paogoulen.
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The delegation of those killed and injured were all members of the Thadou Baptist Association and the United Baptist Council. Sitlhou served as president of Thadou Baptist Association.
Among the injured were Rev. S.M. Haopu, Rev. Hekai Simte, Rev. Paothang, and driver Goumang, according to Times of India. Local sources and official press releases noted Rev. Kaithang Singsit, Thangtinlen Sitlhou, and Lungoumang Lhouvum were also injured.
Based on police reports, the attack took place between Kotjim and Kotlen in Kangpokpi while the group was travelling in two vehicles. There is still little clarity on which militant group committed the attack.
Times of India reported claims the victims were part of a delegation of senior clergy travelling from Churachandpur to Kangpokpi to attend an ecclesiastical meeting. They were supposedly involved in reconciliation efforts between the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities, with recent deliberations in Nagaland.
Calls for peace and action
In a press release published the day of the attack, the Evangelical Fellowship of India condemned the attack, calling it “deeply disturbing and tragic” and urging the government to “ensure urgent medical care for the injured, protection for affected communities, and a thorough, impartial investigation so that those responsible are brought to justice.”
In a separate press release, the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust denounced the government for its failure to “guarantee the safety and free movement of Kuki-Zo citizens within their own state.”
“This act of barbarism must be condemned, unequivocally and without delay, by every Christian institution across the globe. … To remain silent when ordained ministers are ambushed and murdered for the work of peace is to be complicit in their killing,” the press release reads.
The Manipur Baptist Convention issued its own statement on the attack, calling it an act of “senseless violence” resulting in the tragic loss of devoted leaders. The convention urged the government to look into the attack.
“We strongly appeal to the government to seriously look into the matter to conduct an immediate and impartial investigation, and to ensure that the perpetrators are identified and brought to justice without delay,” the statement said.
21Wilberforce, an international Christian human rights organization, also condemned the killing in a separate statement, calling for peace in Manipur and accountability for those responsible.
“We urge Indian authorities to thoroughly investigate and hold the perpetrators accountable for this senseless violence against men who dedicated their lives to serving their people and pursuing peace,” the statement reads.
The organization also reaffirmed its support for church leaders working toward reconciliation in the region: “21Wilberforce remains committed to supporting church leaders in Manipur and across Northeast India who are working for peace; we stand with those bravely seeking healing and reconciliation and pray that many more will join them in bridging divides in their communities.”
Baptist groups urge reconciliation
Baptist World Alliance, an international communion of Baptists, and member body Asia Pacific Baptist Federation joined with the National Council of Baptist Churches in India, issuing a statement of mourning and calling for peace pursued through dialogue.
“Today, the worldwide Baptist family together with Baptists in India grieve the tragic deaths of Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou, the former general secretary of Manipur Baptist Convention and present president of the Thadou Baptist Association India; Rev. Kaigoulun Lhouvum, the secretary of finance, youth, and music department of TBAI; and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou,” the statement says.
The three organizations “together … condemn this brutal attack targeting pastors and innocent individuals who believed in Christ’s command to love God and love others,” the statement continues.
The statement declared the value of human life, calling for reconciliation and peace: “Together we affirm the sanctity of every human life and reject all forms of hatred, vengeance, and communal hostility. We call for a just peace rooted not in fear and retaliation, but in truth, accountability, reconciliation, and dialogue.
“As Manipur continues to recover from large-scale conflicts of the recent past, we urge all people and communities to reject ethnic and other divisions, resist further escalation, and pursue the hard but holy work of love, reconciliation, and restorative care, most especially for the vulnerable and the suffering.”
Beginnings of conflict
The ethnic violence began in response to the Meitei’s demand for the government to grant them Scheduled Tribe Status. The Meitei people are a predominantly Hindu group who comprise the majority population in Manipur State, situated on the eastern frontier of India.
Scheduled Tribe Status grants members access to tangible benefits such as political representation, educational benefits, and government jobs.
According to a report published by Khalvontawi, the ongoing conflict resulted in a formal division within the state’s Baptist convention, with several Kuki-Zo Baptist churches breaking away from the Manipur Baptist Convention, forming the United Baptist Convention in 2025.
The Manipur Baptist Convention was forced to replace former Kuki-Zo members, marking a shift in the structure of the convention.
The ethnic conflict has claimed the lives of over 260 people and resulted in the displacement of 60,000 people. The current dispute revolves primarily around tribal rights. As a result of the violence, the federal government split the state into two ethnic zones, a measure that has failed to end the brutality.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Faith Pratt and originally published by Baptist Standard.
