The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) has strongly objected to the identification of three slain church leaders as “Kuki,” asserting that the victims were members of the Thadou community and accusing sections of the media and certain groups of misrepresenting their identity following the deadly ambush in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district.
In a sharply worded statement issued amid rising tensions, TIM said the Thadou community was “engulfed in grief and anger” over the killing of Dr Rev Vumthang Sitlhou, president of the Thadou Baptist Association India (TBAI), along with Rev Kaigoulun and Pastor Paogoulen, who were killed in what the organisation described as a “targeted armed attack” at Kotlen on May 13. Five other pastors and church workers sustained bullet injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at Shija Hospitals and Research Institute.
The organisation alleged that describing the slain leaders as “Kuki” had caused additional pain to the bereaved community and termed such references “inaccurate, offensive and unacceptable.” TIM urged all media organisations, civil society groups and individuals to refrain from using the terms “Kuki” or “Thadou-Kuki” while referring to the victims, insisting that the Thadou people possess a distinct ethnic identity.
TIM stated that Dr Rev Vumthang Sitlhou had consistently upheld and defended Thadou identity. It referred to the “Kuki Zo Flag” hoisting programme held on May 9 at the KCC Community Hall, claiming that although his name appeared among ministers for the event, he later clarified that he neither attended nor consented to participate in the programme.
The statement further revealed that Dr Rev Vumthang and the TBAI leadership had been spearheading efforts to establish a proposed United Baptist Convention involving several Baptist bodies without incorporating the term “Kuki” in the convention’s name. According to TIM, disagreements over the naming issue led certain Kuki church groups to withdraw from the initiative.
The organisation claimed the slain church leaders were attacked while returning to Kangpokpi after attending a United Baptist Convention meeting in Churachandpur.
Declaring the three deceased leaders as “Thadou Martyrs,” TIM accused certain groups of attempting to politicise the killings and interfere in matters relating to Thadou identity and community affairs. It also appealed against any attempt to alter plans for the burial of the victims at the TBA compound in Kangpokpi.