By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, May 16, 2026: The Indian Christian Women’s Movement condemned the killing of three Kuki Church leaders in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, calling the May 13 armed ambush that also left four others grievously injured “alarming signals across the country.”
The group said the “gravity of this gruesome incident becomes more intense against the backdrop of the persistent ethnic tensions in Manipur since May, 2023.”
ICWM leaders warned that apprehensions about the safety of minorities in the conflict-ridden state are “deeply disturbing,” highlighting the vulnerability of citizens caught in “socially engineered violence.”
National convenor Dr. Susan Thomas and former convenor Ms. Raynah Marise said members “strongly condemn the killing of the Kuki pastors and other leaders of this community.” They added, “We share the grief of those afflicted by this ghastly incident and stand in solidarity with the suffering of those who are victimized.”
The statement urged reconciliation rather than retaliation. “Instead of countering violence with more violence, people may engage in dialogue that can promote reconciliation between Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities,” ICWM said.
It stressed that “peace has a chance when hearts become open to respect differences and see the other not as an enemy but as a sister/brother who is equally vulnerable.”
ICWM also expressed concern that Manipur “continues to be susceptible to unbridled violence,” urging state authorities and civil society leaders to “engage constructively to resolve ethnic conflicts and restore peace in the region.”
The group concluded with an appeal: “May we all become sowers of the seeds of peace instead of hatred, that mutual understanding may grow between individuals, ethnic groups and diverse religious communities.”