Imphal, May 19: The United Naga Council (UNC) has denied allegations linking Naga groups to the killing of three Thadou church leaders in Manipur and instead raised suspicion over the possible involvement of Kuki militant groups operating in the area.
In a statement issued on May 18, the council condemned the May 13 ambush and described the slain church leaders as “warriors of peace and understanding”, while expressing support for legal action against those responsible for the attack.
The UNC claimed that allegations against Naga groups began circulating on social media shortly after the incident. Referring specifically to a statement reportedly issued by Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the organisation alleged that the ZUF-Kamson Group and NSCN-IM had been named as responsible for the killings within hours of the attack.
The council further questioned the authenticity of the statement, alleging that the condemnation letter carried the date “6/5/2026”, which it claimed was seven days before the ambush took place. The UNC sought what it termed “concrete proofs” from KIM regarding allegations against Naga groups.
The organisation also criticised the role of security forces during the hostage situation that followed the attack. It alleged that the Army’s 57 Mountain Division headquarters at Leimakhong was situated close to the location of the incident and claimed that stronger intervention could have been initiated on the same day. The UNC additionally alleged that security deployment in vulnerable Naga areas remained inadequate and discriminatory.
Calling for stricter measures against suspected Kuki militant groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, the council urged both the Centre and the Manipur government to disarm militants and restrict them to designated camps. It further stated that the SoO arrangement should be withdrawn if militant groups continue to violate the law.
The statement also referenced earlier observations made by Thadou Inpi Manipur regarding reported tensions surrounding “Kuki” and “Thadou” identities. Citing a May 17 statement, the UNC claimed that Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou had opposed the hoisting of the “Kuki Zo Flag” on May 9 and was regarded as a prominent voice for Thadou identity.
The organisation further alleged that the ambush took place in what it described as a Kuki militant-dominated area, claiming that the movement of non-Kuki armed groups into the region was unlikely.
Without presenting direct evidence, the UNC stated that the killings appeared to have “an intra-fold character” involving elements within the wider Kuki fold. At the same time, it urged people not to circulate allegations regarding Naga involvement without evidence and said additional information surrounding the case was continuing to emerge.
