UNC has rejected KOHUR's allegations linking Naga groups to the killing of three Thadou church leaders, citing alternative explanations and calling for evidence.
Imphal, May 30: The Working Committee of the United Naga Council (UNC) has strongly rejected allegations made by the Kuki Organization for Human Rights (KOHUR) linking Naga groups to the ambush and killing of three Thadou church leaders in Kangpokpi district earlier this month.
In a rejoinder issued on May 29, the UNC said the accusation made by KOHUR in its May 25 statement was baseless and claimed there was no evidence to suggest the involvement of Naga groups in the attack that claimed the lives of the church leaders on May 13.
The council argued that the Naga groups named by KOHUR had no reason to target the church leaders, whom it described as individuals widely recognized for promoting goodwill and peaceful coexistence. According to the statement, such groups had nothing to gain from carrying out the killings.
The UNC also questioned the feasibility of the alleged involvement of Naga armed groups, claiming that entering areas between Kotlen and Kozim, which it described as being under the influence of Kuki militants, would be tactically impractical and dangerous.
Referring to information it described as coming from reliable sources, the council further claimed that the attackers were heard speaking in a Kuki dialect. It cited this as one of the factors that, in its view, ruled out Naga involvement.
The statement also raised questions about the circumstances of the ambush. According to the UNC, several vehicles were reportedly travelling on the route before and behind the vehicles carrying the church leaders. It argued that the attackers appeared to have specifically targeted the victims and possessed prior knowledge about their movements, including details of the vehicles and seating arrangements.
The council said the precision of the attack suggested that the perpetrators had access to specific intelligence regarding the victims' travel plans.
The UNC also referred to statements issued by different factions of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF). It noted that both ZUF-J and ZUF-K had denied involvement in the killings and accused Kuki groups of continuing to rely on claims that had already been rejected by those named.
In its rejoinder, the council also commented on KOHUR's description of one of the victims, Dr. Sitlhou, as a peace-builder involved in Kuki-Zo-Naga Christian reconciliation efforts. The UNC questioned whether those initiatives were viewed as being in conflict with demands for separate administration by Kuki groups and suggested that the timing of the killing warranted closer examination.
A significant portion of the statement focused on tensions surrounding the identity debate between "Kuki" and "Thadou." The council argued that the circumstances surrounding the killings appeared more closely connected to disagreements and divisions emerging from that controversy rather than any Naga-related involvement.
The UNC cited several statements issued by the Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) in recent months. According to the council, those statements highlighted long-standing disputes over identity, language and representation. It also referred to TIM's repeated assertion that Thadou is a distinct and independent identity and not part of the broader Kuki identity.
The council said the ongoing debate had affected community relations, religious affiliations and ethnic cohesion, and suggested that these tensions could provide a more plausible context for understanding the killings.
Apart from the church leaders' case, the UNC also raised concerns regarding six Naga captives and alleged mistreatment of Naga women who were reportedly held captive. It questioned why Kuki groups had denied knowledge of the captives and called for clarity regarding their whereabouts and treatment.
The statement further challenged KOHUR to support its claims with what it described as concrete evidence and facts. It maintained that human rights issues should be addressed impartially and said no community should be treated differently in matters concerning justice and accountability.
The killing of the three church leaders has triggered competing narratives and allegations from different organisations, with calls continuing for a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident.
