ITANAGAR, 14 May: The United Christian Forum (UCF) has strongly condemned the killing of Baptist church leaders in violence-stricken Manipur, and called on both central and state governments to take concrete corrective measures to stop the prolonged unrest that started on 3 May, 2023.
The victims were church leaders and were involved in brokering peace between the Kukis and the Tangkhul Nagas in the restive Kamjong and Ukhrul districts of Manipur. “The death of such leaders is a great loss for the state and to the nation at large,” said the UCF in a release on Thursday.
The UCF expressed appreciation for Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who immediately visited the injured and assured of the highest standard of care, besides bearing their medical expenses.
The forum further appealed for early release of 20 Nagas of Konsakhul village who were held hostage by people from Leilon Vaihei village soon after the ambush, and the 23 Kuki labourers ‘detained’ by locals in the same district dominated by the Nagas.
Dr Michael Williams, the national president of the UCF, urged the people of both communities to stop abductions and intimidation on community lines and learn to coexist in peace.
