Aizawl, May 14: Churches in Mizoram and the state Congress unit have voiced strong condemnation of the killing of three church leaders in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on May 13, calling the ambush a heinous act of violence and a devastating loss to the Christian community.

The Council of Churches in Mizoram (CCM), representing nine major denominations, issued a statement expressing profound grief over the attack, in which two vehicles carrying religious leaders were ambushed between Kotzim and Kotlen villages. The council noted that the incident has deeply shaken Christians across the Northeast, urging believers to pray for peace and the restoration of normalcy in Manipur. It conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the wider church community, and the people of the violence-hit state.

The Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) also released a condolence message mourning the deaths of three pastors from the Thadou Baptist Association of India (TBAI). The party described the slain leaders as “messengers of peace and reconciliation” who had been working tirelessly amid ongoing unrest. Their sacrifice, the Congress said, represents an immense and painful loss but could serve as a foundation for lasting peace and harmony. The MPCC extended solidarity to the families, colleagues, and the entire TBAI community, while praying for the recovery of those injured.

Police confirmed that three church leaders were killed and four others wounded when suspected militants opened fire on the convoy returning from a religious congregation in Churachandpur. Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the attack, calling it a “senseless act of violence” against civilians that undermines efforts to restore peace in Manipur, which has been gripped by ethnic conflict since 2023. Following the killings, Kangpokpi district, where Kukis form the majority, observed a complete shutdown.