In a heartbreaking yet transformative moment, the only son of a murdered church leader honored his father’s legacy by choosing forgiveness, urging an immediate de-escalation of Manipur’s ongoing violence.
BY PC Bureau
May 15, 2026: Standing just feet from his father’s casket, the son of a murdered church leader offered forgiveness to his killers on Friday, transforming a mass funeral for three ambushed pastors into an urgent plea for peace and the release of remaining hostages.
Speaking at the burial ceremony attended by thousands, Haominlun Sitlhou, the only son of slain pastor Rev. Dr. V. Sitlhou, issued an urgent appeal for the immediate release of remaining Kuki hostages to pave the way for peace.
“I forgive those who killed my father in the name of the Lord and in the larger interest of peace,” declared Haominlun Sitlhou at the Thadou Baptist Association India (TBA-I) Campus in Motbung.
Haominlun stated his intention to follow the path of faith and reconciliation that his father had championed. He directed a specific, humanitarian appeal to major Naga civil society organizations—including the United Naga Council (UNC), the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), and the Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA). He urged these groups to intervene and secure the unconditional release of the remaining hostages as a critical step toward de-escalating regional tensions.
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The somber ceremony, organized by the TBA-I and supported by the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), drew thousands from the Kuki-Zo community and neighboring groups. Emotional scenes unfolded throughout the day; hymns, prayers, and quiet sobs filled the air as the three coffins were lowered into the ground. Attendees described the killings not only as a tragic loss for the families but as a devastating blow to the spiritual and moral fabric of the hill districts.
Rev. Dr. V. Sitlhou’s son called for peace and appealed for the safe release of the Kuki hostages.
He also shared that his father was a peace loving soul who always believed in humanity above hatred and division.#manipur #manipurisburning #kuki pic.twitter.com/BqnoH1wSY8— Gangpikon village (@GangpikonV) May 15, 2026
Rev. Dr. V. Sitlhou and two fellow pastors were returning from a religious program when their convoy was ambushed in the Kangpokpi district. The killings have triggered widespread outrage and mourning across the region.
Yet, it was the bereaved son’s defining act of forgiveness that resonated most deeply. Attendees described Haominlun’s statement as both heartbreaking and transformative—a stark moral challenge to communities locked in conflict, proving that the pursuit of peace remains possible even in the shadow of violence. As church bells tolled, the mass burial served as a solemn farewell to three spiritual shepherds and a poignant reminder of the human cost of Manipur’s ongoing ethnic strife.
