DIMAPUR, MAY 15 (MExN): The Naga Students' Federation, Nagaland Joint Christian Forum, Angami Baptist Church Council and Thadou Inpi Manipur have separately condemned the recent killings, abductions and violence reported from Manipur, while also appealing for justice, restraint and peace among communities.
In a condemnation issued on May 15, the NSF expressed “strong condemnation over the outrageous and inhuman ambush upon the church leaders of the Thadou Baptist Association,” in which three persons were killed and five others injured while returning from Churachandpur between Kotzim and Kotlen in Kangpokpi district.
The NSF also condemned the killing of a Chiru Naga civilian at Joujangtek area in Noney district on May 13, where Wilson Tbanga was killed and his wife critically injured. It further condemned the alleged abduction of two religious workers, identified as Bro Peter Poji of the Pochury Naga community and Bro Aching Paul of the Rongmei Naga community, from Saparmeina while travelling from Don Bosco Imphal to Don Bosco Maram.
The federation additionally expressed concern over reports that several persons from Konsakhul village were being held hostage, and demanded the “unconditional and immediate release of all the Naga hostages unharmed.”
Stating that “the indiscriminate incidents of killings and abduction by the aggressors upon innocent civilians has liquidated all sense of humanity,” the NSF questioned what it termed the continued inaction of both the State and Central governments despite recurring attacks on civilians.
The federation said the Naga people “does not condone violence,” but added that they would not remain “silent spectators while injustice burns before our eyes.” It also asserted that any attack on one Naga would be viewed collectively by the community.
In a separate statement issued after an urgent executive meeting held in Dimapur on May 14, the NJCF said members discussed the “prevailing situation in Manipur with much concern and urgency.”
The forum said social media narratives could be misleading, but maintained that “precious lives were taken away from our community.” It stated that “there is no justification of the evil committed by cowards and they must be made accountable before God and before man in the strictest form of the court.”
The NJCF appealed to all communities to “come forward from hatred and hostilities in the spirit of Christian love and reconciliation,” and urged both Naga and Kuki communities “who are at loggerheads to cease hostility and listen to the cry of the common people.”
The forum further appealed for the release of all kidnapped persons and called upon authorities “to be stern and not be sitting comfortably without dispensing what is necessary at the moment.” It also urged the Central government to “act with precision and not just be making lame appeal and excuses.”
Meanwhile, the ABCC condemned what it termed the “barbaric, inhuman and unimaginable act of violence” in the May 13 attack that killed three Baptist church leaders and injured several others returning from the United Baptist Convention Conference in Churachandpur.
The ABCC said the attack represented “an outright disregard for the sanctity of human life,” and appealed to the Government of Manipur to ensure an impartial investigation and hold those responsible accountable. It also called upon the grieving community to “shun hatred” and “allow justice to have its way.”
Separately, the Thadou Inpi Manipur issued a statement expressing grief over the killings and objecting to what it described as the misidentification of the victims’ ethnic identity in sections of the media and public discourse.
The organisation stated that the victims were “ethnically Thadou — not Kuki,” and said references portraying them otherwise were “inaccurate and deeply offensive” to the bereaved community. It urged all concerned “to respect the distinct identity of the Thadou people and to correctly refer to them as Thadou.”
The statement also highlighted the late Rev Dr Vumthang Sitlhou’s role in church leadership and initiatives related to Thadou identity, language and Christian fellowship.
