Church and civil society bodies have appealed for justice, peace, and enhanced security measures following the deadly assault that has sent shockwaves through the Kuki community.
BY PC Bureau
June 11, 2026: The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has strongly condemned the brutal pre-dawn attack on Kultuh village in Kamjong district, terming it a “cross-border massacre and arson” carried out by a combined group of Tangkhul NSCN-IM (Eastern Flank) and Myanmar-based Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) cadres.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the apex Kuki civil body said the attackers crossed over from Myanmar in the early hours of June 11, killed two prominent church workers, injured two others, and set seven houses on fire before retreating across the border. The deceased have been identified as Letminlun Haokip (34), General Secretary of KBC Circle No. 17 and Head Deacon of Kultuh Local Church, and Lunminthang Haokip (36), Youth Department General Secretary of KBC Circle No. 17 and Youth Chairman of Kultuh Local Church. According to the KIM statement, both men were brutally mutilated and their bodies burned.
KIM alleged that the attackers were heard speaking in Tangkhul among themselves and in Burmese while communicating with SNA cadres. Eyewitnesses reportedly saw blood-stained uniforms and claimed that some Tangkhul civilians from nearby areas assisted the attackers by guiding them and providing logistical support. The organisation has demanded an immediate and impartial investigation into these allegations.
Describing the incident as “external aggression” rather than an internal clash, KIM criticised the Central and State governments for failing to secure the Indo-Myanmar border. “The Centre’s continued silence and the apparent failure to secure the border amount to a gross dereliction of duty,” the statement said.
The Kuki Inpi urged the authorities to immediately seal vulnerable stretches of the border in Kamjong district, launch a judicial inquiry with witness protection, arrest all perpetrators and collaborators, and dismantle the camps of the NSCN-IM Eastern Flank. It also called for diplomatic action against the involvement of Myanmar’s SNA junta and demanded adequate compensation and reconstruction of destroyed properties in Kultuh. The body warned that prolonged inaction would leave the community with no option but to protect itself.
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The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from other Kuki organisations. The Kuki Baptist Convention (KBC), in a press release signed by its General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Letkholthang Haokip, expressed profound anguish over the killing of the two church leaders and the torching of houses, including possibly the village church. It described the violence as a serious violation of human life and urged authorities to take decisive steps to protect civilians and prevent recurrence.
Separately, the Eastern Kuki Chiefs’ Association (EKCA) also issued a strong condemnation, labelling the incident a “heinous and barbaric attack.” It identified the perpetrators as NSCN (Eastern Flank) and SNA cadres and called for a thorough investigation and justice for the victims.
The twin killings and arson have sent shockwaves through the Kuki community, heightening concerns over repeated cross-border violence and the safety of villages along the Indo-Myanmar border. Civil society groups and church bodies have appealed for peace while pressing the government for swift action and enhanced security measures in the region.
