Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh met Kuki groups and church leaders in Kangpokpi, receiving memoranda seeking justice, peace and an end to the economic blockade.
Kangpokpi, July 9: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday met Kuki civil society organisations, church leaders and residents in Kangpokpi district, where he appealed for peace while receiving memoranda seeking justice for victims of recent violence and an end to the prolonged economic blockade affecting Kuki-Zo areas.
After concluding his visit to Senapati, the Chief Minister was accorded a warm reception at Taphou Kuki Village, where he received separate memoranda from the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills and the Taphou Kuki Village Authority. He assured the delegations that their concerns would be given due priority and that the government would take up necessary development initiatives for the welfare and progress of the people.
At Kangpokpi Bazar, Khemchand Singh also interacted with church leaders and pastors, stressing that peace was essential for development.
"There can be no development without peace," he said, urging all communities to reject violence and work together towards achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Manipur 2047.
Grateful for the warm felicitation accorded to me during my interaction with Church leaders and pastors at Kangpokpi Bazar today.
— Khemchand Yumnam (@YKhemchandSingh) July 8, 2026
I appealed to all communities to reject violence and work together to restore lasting peace and harmony in Manipur. Peace is the foundation of… pic.twitter.com/amSqLPwvHV
The interaction coincided with a mass prayer service and peaceful rally organised by the Kuki-Zo Christian Forum (KZCF). Church leaders and believers gathered at KBC Centre Church before marching to National Highway-2, where they held a sit-in demonstration and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister during his brief stopover.
The rally sought justice for three church pastors—Rev. V. Sitlhou, Pastor Kaigoulun Lhouvum, and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou—who were killed in the May 13 ambush in Kangpokpi district.
Addressing the gathering, Rev. Dr. S. Chongloi, Chairman of the Kuki-Zo Christian Forum, said the violence over the past three months began with the killing of the three pastors. He alleged that 14 Kuki-Zo people had lost their lives and 14 villages had been burnt since then.
The Forum urged the government to expedite the investigation, identify those responsible for the killings and ensure justice without further delay. It also appealed for immediate intervention to end the economic blockade, stating that restrictions on the movement of food, fuel, medicines and other essential commodities had created severe hardship for civilians, particularly women, children, the elderly and displaced families.
Receiving the memorandum, the Chief Minister assured the gathering that the government remained committed to the rule of law and that no individual or community was above the law.
Addressing church leaders and the public, Khemchand Singh referred to the Christian principle of "forgive and forget" as an important foundation for reconciliation while emphasising that justice would prevail without discrimination. He said prolonged violence had its greatest impact on the younger generation and urged religious leaders to guide youth away from conflict and towards peace.
The Chief Minister also stressed the need to bridge the trust deficit among communities through dialogue and reconciliation, saying lasting peace was essential for rebuilding lives and ensuring inclusive development across Manipur.
The programme concluded with prayers for peace, while the Kuki-Zo Christian Forum reiterated that speedy completion of the investigation into the killings, justice for all victims and the restoration of unhindered movement of essential commodities remained its immediate priorities.
