The United Naga Council (UNC) has come out with a statement on the facts of ambush and killing of three Thadou leaders on 13 May while strongly accusing the Kukis of lying repeatedly stating that “[T]he cold blooded murder of three Thadou Church leaders on the 13th morning has been vehemently and unequivocally condemned by all Naga Civil Society Organisations and the Naga National Organisations across the length and breadth of Nagalim.
“In this dark episode, Manipur has lost three noble warriors of peace and understanding within and between communities. The vacuum left by their departure will be really difficult to fill. The UNC, on behalf of the Nagas and in the larger interest of the people of the state declares that we will lend support to all efforts to the course of law against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
“Following the barbaric murder of the three Thadou Church leaders, the Kukis started alleging the Nagas of complicity in the murder and flooded social media platforms with the same standard tactics adopted by Kuki groups in the conflicts they have been engaged with the Meiteis since May 2023 and now with the Nagas from 7th February, 2026 following the Nazi philosophy- “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes truth.”
“The KIM’s condemnation released within 2 hour time of the ambush killings, categorically naming the ZUF-Kamson Group and NSCN-IM as perpetrators was dated 6/5/2026. The speed and the tone of certainty of that release indicate prior knowledge. There has not been any corrigendum till date on the incongruous date 7(seven) days ahead of the actual bloodletting day. It is therefore understood that the KIM condemnation letter was drafted well in advance and released almost immediately after commitment of the gruesome murder. Does this not smack of complicity in the prior planning of the act.
“It is now incumbent upon the KIM to furnish concrete proofs in the public domain on the complicity of Nagas in the murder as accused by them and to thereby prove absence of any prior knowledge of the crime and their absolute non-involvement in the heinous murder of the Thadou Church leaders.
“We also take strong exception to the manner of response and action of the Security Forces including the mighty Indian army to the Hostage taking incident immediately after the ambush on Thadou Church leaders. The 57th Mountain Division at Leimakhong is located within 2kms of Konsakhul and Leilon Vaiphei villages and as their duty calls should have made hot pursuit after the Kuki militants and rescued the Naga hostages on the 13 May 2026 itself.
“We are also dissatisfied with the security arrangement for the vulnerable Naga areas, which are seen as discriminatory and highly inadequate in terms of numbers and strategic/security concerns
“The State and the Central authorities should immediately disarm and confine the Kuki SoO militant to their designated camps as per the terms of the SoO Agreement to curb their incessant lawless activities and violence against the Meiteis and of late against the Nagas. Should such measures by the authorities be found not feasible on the ground due to the militants’ incalcitrant defiance, the SoO agreement must of necessity be abrogated and the militants strictly subjected to the laws of the land.
“With regard to the barbaric murder of Thadou church leaders on 13 May 2026, it is pertinent to take note of the facts placed by the Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) in their official statement dated May 17, 2026 on the matter of the murder of the Thadou Church leaders :
a. There has been nearly six decade-old controversy over the ethnonym “Kuki” and “Thadou”. Each is ideological and goal-oriented. It is a fact.
b. The question and controversy surrounding the instances of alleged imposition of “Kuki” label on the Thadous and their forward rejection is a fact.
c. That Dr. Rev. Vumthang Sitlhou, a strong leader who stood for Thadou identity was considered a hurdle to the process of building an umbrella Kuki identity and politicization, is a fact. An attempt trying to stand away and above the Kuki label is considered outside the demand for “separate administration.”
d. KLA (L)’s warning to Kuki-Zo people not to meet the Chief Minister of Manipur in Churachandpur on 15 May 2026 is a fact. The visit to Churachandpur for religious matter by the victim’s party might have been perceived negatively as cordiality between the Thadous and the Zo people at that fluid instant juncture was considered as an act of defiance, the visit being undertaken while an announced warning was in effect.
e. The place where the ambush took place is Kuki and their militants-dominated area where no infiltration of non-Kuki armed groups is possible, is also a fact.
f. The killing was precise. Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou’s vehicle was hit the hardest. At least 15 bullets were recovered from his body. He was the primary target — a Thadou leader known for translating the Holy Bible “In Thadou,” for establishing Thadou fellowships outside Manipur, and for publicly rejecting the May 9, 2026 “Kuki Zo Flag” hoisting where his name was misused without consent. This rejection was an affront to the radical Kuki groups.
g. A KRA/KNO “tax collection entry gate” sits just one kilometre from the ambush site, near an Army/ Assam Rifles post. KRA/KNO is a Kuki SoO group that operates in the area.”
h. The question of “Who has killed Nehkam Jomhao in Assam on 30 August 2025 ?” confronts the Kukis and the purveyors of lies. Was he not a strong crusader of peace in
Manipur and Thadou identity which cost his precious life to the bullet of the miscreants? It is perceived that the Thadou leaders are increasingly targeted by Kuki protagonists. Therefore, we urge the Kukis in particular and those others who have been lured into believing them to discontinue forthwith the spread of lies without proofs of Naga complicity and involvement in the highly appalling murder of innocent apostles of peace.
“Against the above facts, the non-involvement of non-Kuki armed group(s) in the killing spree is beyond any doubt but the facts virtually unmasks Kuki’s involvement in the killing which has an intra-fold character- between two non-Naga tribes belonging to controversial Kuki fold.
“We are encouraged by the emerging voices questioning the wild allegations hurled out without any substance and providing facts of events, situations and circumstances under which the crime took place. Revealing information are slowly but surely emerging from reliable sources and the clinching picture will be soon visible to the world at large.
“The truth will prevail and the poisonous fangs of lies and deceit will inevitably meet their destined and deserving ends” concluded the statement issued by the Media Cell, United Naga Council.
