Imphal, May 14: The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee on Wednesday strongly condemned the two separate ambush attacks in the state that claimed four lives and left seven others injured, accusing the BJP governments at the Centre and in Manipur of failing to restore peace in the violence-hit region.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan in Imphal, Congress Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh described the killing of innocent civilians by armed militants as “highly condemnable.”
Ibobi Singh alleged that Manipur has remained trapped in conflict for more than three years and claimed that both the state and central governments had failed to resolve the crisis or establish lasting peace in the state.
“Instead, more people continue to die. The way the government is handling the law-and-order situation in Manipur is completely unconstitutional,” he said.
The senior Congress leader further alleged that the Centre appeared more focused on “electoral politics and winning elections” rather than addressing the ongoing unrest in the state.
The criticism came a day after unidentified armed militants ambushed two vehicles carrying members of the Thadou Baptist Association (TBA) in Kangpokpi district on May 13, killing three church leaders and injuring five others.
The attack occurred between Kotzim and Kotlen villages while the victims were returning from Churachandpur after attending a TBA conference.
The deceased were identified as Rev. Dr. V. Sitlhou, Pastor Kaigoulen Lhouvum and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou. The incident drew strong condemnation from church organisations and civil society groups across the Northeast and abroad.
In another attack later the same evening, one person from the Chiru Naga community was killed and two others injured after suspected militants allegedly opened fire on a Bolero vehicle travelling between Nungsai and Joujangtek along the Khoupum-Bishnupur road under Khoupum Police Station in Noney district.
According to reports, the incident took place around 6:20 pm. The deceased reportedly died on the spot, while the injured, including the victim’s wife and the driver, were shifted to Khoupum for treatment.
