Mizoram Leaders Condemn Killing of Three Church Officials in Manipur Ambush

Aizawl: Religious and political leaders in Mizoram have strongly denounced the killing of three church officials in an ambush in Manipur's Kangpokpi district. The victims, members of the Thadou Baptist Association of India (TBAI), were targeted on May 13 while traveling between Kotzim and Kotlen villages. The group was returning from a religious congregation in Churachandpur when their vehicles were attacked by suspected militants, resulting in three deaths and four injuries.

The Council of Churches in Mizoram (CCM), representing nine major denominations, expressed profound grief over the incident. In an official statement, the council described the event as a heinous act that threatens communal harmony and worsens the ongoing ethnic unrest that has gripped Manipur since 2023. The organization has called for prayers to restore peace and normalcy to the troubled state, while offering condolences to the bereaved families.

Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the assault, noting that violence against civilians actively undermines state efforts to achieve stability. In response to the tragedy, a total shutdown was observed in Kangpokpi district, a region with a significant Kuki population, as the community reels from the loss of its leaders.