The Day the Pastors Were Brutally Killed: The May 13 Ambush and the Week That Followed

Why the May 13 Ambush?

It was on this fateful day that three of our beloved pastors were killed, while another three pastors and two drivers were injured in an ambush by war-mongering armed miscreants. The victims of the said unfortunate incident were travelling in two vehicles from Churachandpur to Kangpokpi after attending a Church Meeting the previous day. The church leaders who were under a brutal attack between Kotlen and Kotzim villages in Kangpokpidistrict belongs to the Thadou Baptist Association, India (TBAI). In the said ambush, only one pastor, out of the sixinnocent Baptist Church Leaders and two drivers, escaped from physical injury though the trauma he'd faced was no less painful.

Who were the culprits?

Though it is yet to be officially confirmed by the law enforcing agencies, the circumstances surrounding the brutal attack all points to one possible conclusion: the Tangkhul extremists who are hell-bent on escalating the Kuki-Tangkhul conflict in Ukhruland Kamjong districts might have carried out the attack in the name of ZUF-Kamson faction. This allegation was established by both the press statements issued by Kuki-Zo bodies including Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), and ZUF (Jeanchui) group. However, there is also high chance that the Valley-Based Insurgent Groups (or the VBIGs) of the Arambai Tenggols might have been providing logistics support. 

Why target Pastors?

Again, there is no concrete evidence to establish the reason behind the target. However, circumstances establish that they might have been targeted not only for being “Kukis” but also for engaging in peace dialogue which the Tangkhul organisations, particularly the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), strongly opposed. It may be mentioned that Rev (Dr) V. Sitlhou, one of the three pastors killed in the ambush, had led a contingent of Church Leaders from the Kuki-Zo Community to Kohima in Nagaland for a peace dialogue with the Tangkhul Nagas the previous week. The peace meeting was initiated by the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum, calling for a two-month ceasefire from May 5-July 5, 2026. In that meeting, the President of TNL, Mr. Sword Vashum, was reportedly showing no interest in pursuing peacetalks with the Kukis as they probably have more plans to do. Not long after, i.e., on May 12, 2026, one more Kuki village called Molnoi along Indo-Myanmar border was torched by Tangkhul militants. It may also be recalled here that when violent confrontation first broke out in February 2026 at Litan between the Tangkhuls and Kukis over drunken brawls, there was anattempt to defuse the fire from both the communities. But the Tangkhul CSOs, including TNL, who came for the meeting refused to sit with the representatives of the Kukis and the Government of Manipur, resulting in the continued violence leading to loss of many precious lives and properties on both sides. If the Tangkhul CSOs, have at least attended the meeting, which was also attended by Ms. Kimneo Hangshing Haokip, a Kuki MLA from Saikul AC and the Tangkhul MLA from Phungyar AC, the situation could have been contained. 

Why the ambush?

There are many theories revolving around the inhumane incident that led to the death of three pastors. Here are two of the most relevant ones:

First, the attack on the Kuki-Zo vehicles along this ring-road, the only lifeline since the outbreak of ethnic pogrom in May 2023, was perhaps to divert the attention of the public from the ugly violent confrontation between the Kukis and Tangkhuls in Ukhrul and Kamjong (Tangkhul majority districts) to Kangpokpi, a Kuki-dominated district and its neighbouring Naga-dominated districts, namely Senapati, Noney and Tamenglong. The assailants were quite successful in this since all attention has now been directed towards this region.

Second, it was also probably meant to escalate the conflict between the Kukis and Tangkhuls (Nagas) to other districts of Manipur. The Tangkhuls, who have been allegedly engineeringthis developments have been partially successful, but thanks to the Nagas of Tamenglong district (particularly the Rongmeis and Zemes) and Senapati district for taking utmost restraint that the conflict doesn't, at least for now, escalate into a full-blown violent ethnic confrontation as in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts. 

Why choose the road between Kotlen and Kotzim villages as the site for the ambush?

Almost the entire stretch of the road between Kotlen and Leimakhong in Kangpokpi district is heavily guarded either by Central Forces or Kuki Village Volunteers (KVV). Whereas there is a permanent Assam Rifles post in Kotlen, Leimakhonghas the largest military garrison in the state. In between, Central Forces are deployed in at least three more locations including Ireng Naga village. Along such a heavily guarded stretch by the Central Paramilitary Forces, it is only natural for the attackers to choose an ambush site very carefully.

Here, the short stretch between Kotlen and Kotzim villages isusually left unguarded by the KVVs because it is too near to the Assam Rifles Post at Kotlen. So, knowing well this stretch remain unguarded, the attackers carefully choose this unsuspecting site to carry out their ambush. Since the site is just a couple of kilometres from the Assam Rifles Post, the assailantshad to vanish as soon as they complete the task.

Did the assailants know their victims beforehand?

Probably, yes. Because the vehicle they were travelling carry the nameplate of the Church. And since the ambush was carried out in a very strategic location, and the shooting was done from a distance of about 10-15 metres from above the road, they could probably see the nameplate of their targets. Moreover, it may also be recalled that the first vehicle plying along that ring-road on that very day was not targeted. The first vehicle was stopped at Ireng Naga village, a few kilometres from the ambush site, and the passengers were taken hostage! 

What was the immediate consequence of the ambush?

As was planned, the Kuki-Zo civilians travelling in the first vehicle were detained at Ireng Naga village. In return, the Kuki-Zo volunteers in Leilon Village took a few Naga civilianshostage, most of whom belonged to Konsakhul (Liangmei Naga) village. Soon after, the Nagas of Senapati district, led by the President of Senapati District Students Association (SDSA),detained more than 20 Kuki civilians from Taphou Kuki Village at Senapati. As tension rose, all the roads in the region including the National Highway (NH-2), NH-37, and the Kangpokpi-Churachandpur ring-road, remained practically closed for civilians for fear of more kidnapping. These series of incidents – the ambush, the kidnapping of civilians, and the road blockades – couldn’t have been possible in such a short span of time unless it was well-planned by the assailants. More importantly, they were successful in diverting the attention of the people, particularly those in the media, from the Tangkhul dominated districts to Kangpokpi, Senapati and Noney/Tamenglong. There has been no incident of violent confrontation there for one whole week until May 21 when the Tangkhul armed miscreants reportedly began to fire towards Mangkot Chepu Kuki Village in Ukhrul district again!

What could be next?

Honestly, I can't say with certainty. But looking at the pattern of the ongoing confrontation between the Kukis and Tangkhul(Nagas), it is likely that the same might be replicated somewhere in Chandel or Tengnoupal. As in the Kuki-Naga conflict in the 1990s, the Tangkhuls will go all out to drag in all the Naga tribes of Manipur, and even beyond, as it will be highly beneficial for the tribe (Tangkhul) who have been leading the NSCN-IM, the main Naga insurgent group from Manipur for decades. This will not only shield their evil intentions but also the repercussions could work more to their advantage.