Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: A delegation of prominent church leaders has joined forces with Naga civil society organizations in Senapati district to call for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages held amidst the ongoing tribal conflict in Manipur. The 10-member delegation, which included representatives from the Manipur Baptist Convention, the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India, the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, and the Baptist World Alliance, emphasized that detaining civilians only serves to deepen the fear and mistrust between communities.
The collaborative effort involves engagement with key bodies such as the United Naga Council and Kuki Inpi Manipur. The initiative aims to reject violence and foster reconciliation across the state. This move comes shortly after the tragic killing of three church leaders on May 13 near Zero Point in the Kangpokpi district, an event that significantly escalated regional fragility. In response to the tragedy, the delegation visited the bereaved families to offer condolences, while the state government pledged to provide ex-gratia support.
State leadership, including Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, met with the church representatives at the Manipur Secretariat to formally discuss these peace-building initiatives. Officials confirmed that the church leaders have volunteered to act as mediators, splitting into two teams to facilitate dialogue within the Kangpokpi and Senapati districts. These delegations remain committed to ongoing discussions with various tribal groups to secure the release of hostages and stabilize the region on humanitarian grounds.
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