Manipur Pastor and Five Others Still Held Hostage After Abduction

Imphal: Leimakhong Baptist Church stands empty and Hope International School remains closed following the abduction of Reverend Dr. Manu Thiumai. He was taken hostage earlier this month alongside several others by suspected Kuki militants in Manipur. The incident has left families in a state of uncertainty as the region continues to struggle with ongoing ethnic violence.

The crisis began on May 13 when 18 Naga civilians were detained by villagers from Leilon Vaiphei near Konsakhul in the Kangpokpi district. The group was traveling home after attending a family wedding when they were intercepted. While 12 of the hostages were released two days later, Reverend Thiumai and his brother Dilip Thiumai are among the six people still held in captivity.

Reverend Thiumai’s wife, Kachiaklungliu Thiumai, along with other women and children in the group, were released on May 15. She noted that her husband has dedicated his life to ministry and education, founding the Leimakhong Baptist Church in 2010. His absence has halted church services and suspended classes at the school he established for underprivileged students.

The kidnapping has exacerbated tensions in the area, which has seen shifting demographics and displacement since ethnic conflict erupted in 2023. Leimakhong, previously a diverse community, now faces growing instability that has forced many residents to flee. For now, the congregation and the families involved continue to wait for news, relying on prayer as they navigate the silence left behind by the abduction.