Three church leaders were killed and five others were injured on Wednesday in Manipur after the vehicles in which they were travelling were ambushed as they returned from a meeting in Churachandpur to Kangpokpi, stated the Army.

While the apex body of the Kuki tribes, Kuki Inpi Manipur, alleged that the armed Naga group Zeliangrong United Front-Kamson faction was behind the attack, The Indian Express quoted an unidentified security official as saying that the involvement of militant outfits was being investigated.

The Kuki Inpi identified the dead as Reverend V Sitlhou, Reverend Kaigoulen and Pastor Paogoulen. They were part of the Thadou Baptist Association and were travelling back after a meeting of church leaders in Churachandpur, according to the newspaper.

The police said that the attack took place between the Kotjim and Kotlen areas in Kangpokpi.

Sitlhou had earlier served as the general secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention. “He had recently initiated a reconciliation meeting between Kukis and Nagas in Kohima, because of the current tensions between the two communities,” Thangtinlen Haokip, a leader of the Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity, was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

Tensions between Kukis and Nagas in Ukhrul had erupted on February 7, when an alleged assault involving members of the Tangkhul Naga and the Kuki-Zo communities escalated into clashes.

At the meeting in Churchandpur, Christian leaders from both communities had held discussions on peaceful coexistence, restraint and dialogue as the pathway to easing tensions between the groups, stated the Kuki Inpi Manipur.

“It is therefore profoundly heartbreaking and enraging that a man who dedicated himself to peace and reconciliation should fall victim to such a merciless and calculated act of violence,” the apex body said.

The United Naga Council alleged that after the ambush, about 20 Nagas from the Konsakhul village had been held hostage by some persons from the village of Leilon Vaiphei.

“Targeting innocent villagers and holding them hostage is unacceptable and violates all norms of civilised society,” the United Naga Council said, seeking that the hostages be released unconditionally. “Such action only deepens wounds and would escalate tensions between communities.”

The Naga People’s Organisation urged the community not to travel on the Imphal-Senapati highway because of the tensions, the Ukhrul Times reported.

The Kuki Students Organisation declared an immediate shutdown in Churachandpur from 12.30 pm on Wednesday. In Kangpokpi, Thadou bodies also announced a total shutdown across the Sadar Hills, the newspaper reported.

The United Christian Forum of North East India said it was “deeply shocked, pained and anguished” by the ambush and called on the Centre and the Manipur government to launch an impartial and time-bound investigation.

Nagaland, Meghalaya CMs condemn attack

While the Manipur government has not commented on the ambush, the chief ministers of Nagaland and Meghalaya said that they were disturbed by the attack on the church leaders and expressed condolences to the families of those who died.

“Such acts of unprovoked violence and brutality against leaders who work to foster peace, unity, and brotherhood are unacceptable and must be strongly condemned,” Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said in a social media post. “I urge the authorities in Manipur to take immediate and strict action against those responsible.”

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphio Roy said: “Such barbaric violence against innocent lives is unacceptable & has no place in any civilised society.”

Edited by Sneha.