<p>Guwahati: In another blow to ongoing efforts to restore peace in Manipur, three church leaders belonging to Thadou tribe were gunned down and four others were injured in an ambush by unidentified assailants in Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district on Wednesday. </p><p>Thadous share ethnic ties with the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kuki">Kuki</a>-Zo communities. </p><p>The attack was carried out between Kotlen and Kotzim village when the victims were returning after attending a conference of the United Baptist Church in Churachandpur, another Kuki-dominated district that has remained troubled due to the Meitei-Kuki conflict since 2023.</p><p>Armed miscreants fired at the vehicles at around 11.30am, resulting in the death of three church leaders on the spot while four others were injured. </p>.Provided immediate support to victim: IIMB on Manipur woman's case against professor.<p>Kuki Zo Council (KZC), in a statement said the victims were identified as Reverent V. Sitlhou, Reverent Kaigoulun Lhouvum, and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou. The council said V. Sitlhou had played an important role in effrots to end the conflict involving the Tangkhul Nagas and the Kukis in Naga-dominated Ukhrul district of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/manipur">Manipur</a> since February. </p><p>"Alongside the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum, he recently led peace missions between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities who are currently in conflict in Manipur," KZC said. </p><p>Several Kuki-Zo organisations alleged the involvement of Zeliangrong United Front(ZUF-Kamson faction) and Valley-based Meitei armed persons. But the ZUF faction and a few Valley-based groups rejected the allegations. Kuki-Zo organisations announced a "general shut down" in Kuki-dominated districts to register protest against the fresh killings. </p><p>The attack has provided another blow to Yumnam Khemchand Singh government's efforts since February to end the Meitei-Kuki conflict and the Naga-Kuki violence in Ukhrul. The attack on Wednesday took the death toll since April 7 to 17. </p>.Blast, protests reignite anger & agony as Manipur conflict completes three years.<p>Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh along with Deputy CM, Lossii Dikho, Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh and a few others MLAs rushed to a hospital in Imphal where the injured were admitted. </p><p>"The act of violence is deeply troubling and devastating not only for the families but for the entire state as it disturbs our path to peace. Our state is gradually moving towards peace, therefore, actions that undermine this collective efforts of our people to restore normalcy is unacceptable," Singh said in a statement while condemning the attack. </p><p>Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio also condemned the killings. </p>
<p>Guwahati: In another blow to ongoing efforts to restore peace in Manipur, three church leaders belonging to Thadou tribe were gunned down and four others were injured in an ambush by unidentified assailants in Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district on Wednesday. </p><p>Thadous share ethnic ties with the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kuki">Kuki</a>-Zo communities. </p><p>The attack was carried out between Kotlen and Kotzim village when the victims were returning after attending a conference of the United Baptist Church in Churachandpur, another Kuki-dominated district that has remained troubled due to the Meitei-Kuki conflict since 2023.</p><p>Armed miscreants fired at the vehicles at around 11.30am, resulting in the death of three church leaders on the spot while four others were injured. </p>.Provided immediate support to victim: IIMB on Manipur woman's case against professor.<p>Kuki Zo Council (KZC), in a statement said the victims were identified as Reverent V. Sitlhou, Reverent Kaigoulun Lhouvum, and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou. The council said V. Sitlhou had played an important role in effrots to end the conflict involving the Tangkhul Nagas and the Kukis in Naga-dominated Ukhrul district of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/manipur">Manipur</a> since February. </p><p>"Alongside the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum, he recently led peace missions between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities who are currently in conflict in Manipur," KZC said. </p><p>Several Kuki-Zo organisations alleged the involvement of Zeliangrong United Front(ZUF-Kamson faction) and Valley-based Meitei armed persons. But the ZUF faction and a few Valley-based groups rejected the allegations. Kuki-Zo organisations announced a "general shut down" in Kuki-dominated districts to register protest against the fresh killings. </p><p>The attack has provided another blow to Yumnam Khemchand Singh government's efforts since February to end the Meitei-Kuki conflict and the Naga-Kuki violence in Ukhrul. The attack on Wednesday took the death toll since April 7 to 17. </p>.Blast, protests reignite anger & agony as Manipur conflict completes three years.<p>Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh along with Deputy CM, Lossii Dikho, Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh and a few others MLAs rushed to a hospital in Imphal where the injured were admitted. </p><p>"The act of violence is deeply troubling and devastating not only for the families but for the entire state as it disturbs our path to peace. Our state is gradually moving towards peace, therefore, actions that undermine this collective efforts of our people to restore normalcy is unacceptable," Singh said in a statement while condemning the attack. </p><p>Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio also condemned the killings. </p>