Manipur archbishop condemns killing of Baptist pastors in ambush

IMPHAL, Manipur (Indian Catholic News) — The Archbishop of Imphal made a “sincere and humble appeal” for peace and reconciliation after three Baptist pastors were killed in an ambush on a church convoy in India’s north-eastern state of Manipur.

“It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that I express my profound grief over the tragic ambush on two vehicles carrying some church leaders of the Thadou Baptist Association between Kotzim and Kotlen villages in Kangpokpi district on 13th May 2026,” Archbishop Linus Neli of Imphal said in a May 13 statement.

The attack took place on May 13 at about 10 a.m. on the road as leaders of the Thadou Baptist Association were returning from a church meeting.

According to the Kuki community, the ambush was carried out by an armed Naga group. Investigations by local authorities were continuing.

Among those killed were Pastor Vumthang Sitlhou, president of the Thadou Baptist Association, and pastors V. Kaigoulun and Paogou. Four other pastors and two drivers were seriously injured.

The archbishop, whose archdiocese is located in Manipur, said the killings had “further deepened the suffering and uncertainty already prevailing in the state.”

“I strongly condemn this heinous act committed against religious leaders who have remained a source of hope and strength during these difficult times of social unrest,” Archbishop Neli said.

He warned that Manipur “continues to witness fresh and sporadic violence in different parts of the State,” adding that the people had already endured “immense pain, loss and suffering.”

Archbishop Neli urged all sides “to refrain from every form of violence and retaliation, and instead embrace dialogue, forgiveness, reconciliation, restraint, and peaceful coexistence.”

“I also urge the authorities and responsible institutions to act with wisdom, fairness, and sensitivity so that peace with justice may prevail and confidence among communities may be restored,” he said.

The archbishop expressed “prayerful solidarity with the bereaved families” and prayed that God would “comfort the grieving, heal the wounded, forgive the wrong, protect all communities, and bless Manipur with reconciliation, understanding, and lasting peace.”

The latest killings come in the third year of Manipur’s ethnic unrest, which erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei majority and the Kuki-Zo tribal community after a court order linked affirmation policies to tribal status for Meiteis.

Officially, more than 258 people have been killed and at least 60,000 displaced amid cycles of arson, retaliatory attacks and armed clashes. Unofficial sources say those numbers are much higher.