Senapati, May 18: The United Naga Council (UNC) has strongly condemned the killing of three Thadou Church leaders in Kangpokpi district and launched a sharp attack on what it described as “false allegations” aimed at implicating Naga groups in the deadly May 13 ambush. In a strongly worded press statement issued on Monday, the apex Naga civil body termed the killing a “cold-blooded murder” and described the victims as “warriors of peace and understanding,” saying the incident has left a deep void among communities in the region. The council vowed to support efforts to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice. The UNC accused Kuki groups of attempting to mislead the public through social media by blaming Naga organisations and alleged that such accusations followed a “pattern” seen during previous ethnic conflicts in the State. Refuting allegations linking Nagas to the killings, the council questioned the basis of claims made by Kuki civil bodies and organisations, particularly over what it called “premature condemnation letters” that appeared to identify suspects even before investigations had progressed.
Raising serious questions over the timing of statements issued after the attack, the UNC pointed to a condemnation released by the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) naming the ZUF-Kamson and NSCN-IM as alleged perpetrators. The council claimed the speed and nature of the statement suggested “prior knowledge” and demanded that concrete evidence be placed in the public domain if such accusations were to be maintained. The Naga body further alleged that the ambush took place in a Kuki militant-dominated area and cited several factors which, according to it, point toward the involvement of armed Kuki groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. Among the points raised were the location of the incident, the precision of the attack, and previous tensions surrounding ethnic identity disputes involving sections of the Thadou community. The UNC also referred to past controversies surrounding the use of the term “Kuki” by Thadou leaders and highlighted recent disagreements over identity politics, including objections reportedly raised by Thadou leaders against the “Kuki Zo Flag” issue earlier this month. Expressing dissatisfaction with the response of security forces, the council questioned why immediate action was not taken despite the presence of nearby military installations. It alleged that adequate pursuit was not initiated after reports emerged of civilians being taken hostage following the violence. Calling the security arrangements in vulnerable Naga areas “discriminatory and inadequate,” the UNC demanded that the Central Government immediately disarm and confine Kuki SoO militants to designated camps. It further urged authorities to review the continuation of the SoO agreement if militant groups allegedly violate the law. The council maintained that there was “no evidence” linking Naga armed groups to the killing and insisted that the incident appeared to be an “intra-tribal” matter involving tensions between Thadou and Kuki groups. Concluding its statement, the UNC said truth would eventually prevail despite attempts to spread misinformation, while expressing confidence that facts surrounding the killings would emerge through public scrutiny and investigation.
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