Three leaders of the Thadou Baptist Association were shot dead in an ambush in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on May 13, 2024 [1].
The attack targeted high-ranking religious figures during a period of volatile ethnic conflict in the region. Such violence risks further destabilizing the area and inciting retaliatory actions between competing factions.
The victims were identified as pastor Paogoulen, V Kaigoulun, and V Sitlhou, the former general secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention [1]. The ambush occurred on the morning of May 13, 2024 [2], between the villages of Kotzim and Kotlen on National Highway-2 [3].
Reports indicate that unidentified armed men carried out the shooting [1]. Some sources said the attackers were suspected militants, with some reports suggesting a Naga militant group may be responsible [4].
In addition to the three deaths [1], several other people were injured in the attack. Reports on the number of wounded vary between four [5] and five [6] people.
Following the killings, a blockade was imposed on National Highway-2 [7]. This highway serves as a critical artery for transport and supplies in the region, and its closure often exacerbates local tensions.
The motive for the attack has not been officially confirmed, though it is linked to ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur [4]. The region has seen repeated cycles of violence involving different ethnic communities over land and identity.
“Three leaders of the Thadou Baptist Association were shot dead in an ambush”
The killing of religious leaders in a contested region like Manipur often transforms ethnic disputes into broader communal conflicts. By targeting the Thadou Baptist Association, the perpetrators have struck a pillar of community leadership, which typically increases the likelihood of civil unrest and prolonged blockades of essential infrastructure like National Highway-2.
