Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) has said that the three church leaders killed in an ambush in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district earlier this week belonged to the Thadou community and should not be identified as Kuki.In a statement issued on Friday, the organisation urged media houses, civil society groups and individuals to avoid what it described as the “false portrayal” of the identity of the deceased leaders.The clarification came days after an attack at Kotlen in Kangpokpi district on May 13 in which Dr Rev Vumthang Sitlhou, president of the Thadou Baptist Association India (TBAI), Rev Kaigoulun and Pastor Paogoulen were killed. Five other persons were injured in the incident.TIM said the killings had left the Thadou community in deep grief and anger. The organisation described the incident as a “targeted attack” and alleged that the victims had been wrongly identified as Kuki in several reports and public discussions.According to the organisation, such references caused additional pain to the bereaved families and members of the Thadou community.
“Portraying the victims as Kuki is inaccurate and deeply offensive,” the statement said, adding that the misrepresentation could have resulted from “ignorance, misinformation, or deliberate provocation.”TIM appealed to all concerned to respect the distinct identity of the Thadou people and refer to the deceased leaders only as Thadou, and not as “Kuki” or “Thadou-Kuki”.Referring specifically to Dr Rev Vumthang Sitlhou, the organisation claimed that he had consistently maintained his Thadou identity throughout his life and public work.TIM also mentioned an incident related to the “Kuki Zo Flag” hoisting programme organised at the KCC Community Hall on May 9, 2026. According to the organisation, Dr Rev Vumthang’s name had allegedly been included as one of the ministers for the event without his consent.The organisation claimed that the church leader later clarified that he neither attended nor agreed to participate in the programme and had objected to the alleged misrepresentation of his identity.
TIM further stated that Dr Rev Vumthang and the leadership of the Thadou Baptist Association India had been working towards the formation of a United Baptist Convention (UBC) involving different Baptist organisations. According to the statement, the proposed name of the convention did not include the term “Kuki”.The organisation claimed that differences later emerged after some Kuki church groups reportedly objected to the omission of the term from the proposed convention name and subsequently withdrew from the initiative.According to TIM, the three church leaders were returning to Kangpokpi after attending a UBC meeting in Churachandpur when the attack took place.The organisation also announced that the three deceased church leaders had been declared “Thadou Martyrs”. It further alleged that certain Kuki groups were attempting to politicise the killings and interfere in matters related to Thadou identity and community affairs.
