The burial of three Thadou church leaders killed in an ambush in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district took place on May 15 at the campus of the Thadou Baptist Association India church at Motbung, with mourners drawn from across the hill districts to attend the final rites.
The three men laid to rest were Dr. Rev. Vumthang Sitlhou, President of the Thadou Baptist Association India; Rev. Kaigoulun; and Pastor Paogoulen. At the time of his death, Dr. Rev. Vumthang had been working toward establishing a Global Thadou Christian Congress scheduled to begin later this year, aimed at connecting Thadou churches beyond Manipur.
The three were shot on May 13 while returning to Kangpokpi after attending a United Baptist Convention meeting in Churachandpur. The attack on their vehicles occurred at Zero Point along the Kotlen-Kotzim road. Five other pastors and church workers travelling with them sustained gunshot injuries and are being treated at Shija Hospitals and Research Institute.
Haominlun Sitlhou, son of the slain Rev. Dr. V. Sitlhou, rose to speak at the burial. In a video obtained by Christian Today India and transcribed, he addressed not just his own community but every community in the state. “I want to make this clear to all who love my father, to all who would like to honour my father, to all the communities, the Meiteis, the Kukis, the Nagas living in this small tiny state in Manipur,” he said. “Let the blood that was shed on the 13th May of 2026 be the sacrificial blood, a blood that ushers in peace, salvation, justice, harmony and tranquility in our state. Let us stop our retaliatory actions.”
He urged all communities to return to conscience, asking: “Are we not the children of Christ? Are we not the children of the living God? Are you not Nagas, the children of the living God? Are you not Kukis, the children of the living God?” He extended the appeal even to those who did not share his faith. “Meiteis, you may not share the same faith, but why is it too difficult to live in peace? Jealousies, selfishness, greediness that creeps from our hearts, these are the things that brings chaos and strife, injustice in our land.”
He did not place blame on any community but on the state. “I do not blame any community who has taken the life of our beloved father, the life of our beloved husbands, our sons. I blame the system that fails to bring justice. I blame the system that fails to protect its citizens. Your electoral politics is dividing our communities, is dividing our land.”
Then came the words of forgiveness. “I forgive those who killed my father in the name of the Lord and in the larger interest of peace,” he said.
He also made a direct appeal to Naga civil society organisations, including the United Naga Council, the Naga People’s Organisation and the Senapati District Students’ Association, to intervene and help secure the safe release of Kuki civilians still being held captive.
The bodies had arrived at the District Hospital morgue in Kangpokpi on the night of May 13, drawing community members, church leaders and civil society representatives who kept an all-night vigil. On Wednesday morning the mortal remains were moved to the office of the Committee on Tribal Unity at Brigadier M. Thomas Ground in Kangpokpi, where the public paid their respects, before being taken to Motbung for the funeral observances.
Candlelight vigils were held across Kuki-Zo inhabited areas on Tuesday evening in Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Moreh, Chandel and Pherzawl, as well as in remote hill villages. Residents lit candles at churches, village centres and public grounds while demanding justice. Black flags were hoisted in several areas.
Kuki Inpi Manipur announced a two-day shutdown across the hill districts, closing markets, schools and transport services, both as a mark of respect and as a protest against the killings.
The Thadou Inpi Manipur declared the three men Thadou Martyrs and, in a statement, objected to sections of the media identifying them as “Kuki,” describing such references as inaccurate and painful to the bereaved families. The organisation also stated that Dr. Rev. Vumthang had clarified before his death that he had neither consented to nor attended a Kuki Zo flag hoisting ceremony held on May 9. It urged all groups to refrain from politicising the tragedy.
