Manipur: six Naga people kidnapped and killed. The archbishop: “An eye for an eye only increases the pain”

Just the day after the release of the Kuki hostages, the discovery of a new massacre has further inflamed the conflict between the two ethnic groups. Among the victims were two Christian pastors. Protests have erupted around the Imphal mortuary where the bodies were taken, with militants calling for the ceasefire to be suspended. Bishop Lumon tells AsiaNews: “There are historical wounds, but violence is never the way to heal them”

Imphal (AsiaNews) – A large protest erupted outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal following the arrival of the bodies of six men from the Naga community, who were abducted and later found dead on 10 June. The bodies, transferred to the hospital for post-mortem examinations, were in such a severe condition as to be almost unrecognisable, making DNA tests necessary for official identification. Among the victims were also two Christian pastors, a fact that has caused particular dismay within the local religious community.

Hundreds of family members, community members and activists have gathered at the mortuary since the evening. Tensions quickly escalated into clashes with security forces: some protesters threw stones at officers, whilst the police responded by using tear gas to disperse the crowd. Several injuries were reported during the unrest, including that of East Imphal Police Superintendent Sivanand Surve.

The United Naga Council strongly condemned the brutality of the killings and the condition of the bodies recovered. The Council also called for the revocation of the ceasefire agreement with the Kuki militant groups suspected of being involved in the incident. In Senapati district, angry protesters stormed the local headquarters of the Naga People’s Front.

The discovery of the six bodies came just one day after the release of 14 Kuki hostages, an event that had fuelled hopes of a reduction in ethnic tensions in the region. On the contrary, this new episode has exacerbated mistrust between the Naga and Kuki communities, heightening fears of further violence and reprisals.

The Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, announced that the investigation into the abductions and murders has been entrusted to the National Investigation Agency. Meanwhile, forensic teams are gathering evidence and a heavy security presence remains deployed in Imphal to prevent further unrest and ensure public order.

Commenting on this disturbing new development, the Archbishop of Imphal, Msgr Dominic Lumon, told AsiaNews: “I can only lament what is happening – this tit-for-tat violence, the attacks on villages, the burning of houses… There is a loss of humanity. There are historical wounds on both sides, but violence can never be the path to lasting peace. Through interfaith meetings that include traditional religions alongside other faith traditions, we are working towards an end to violence, fostering mutual respect and dialogue, whilst encouraging the concrete expression of the fundamental values that uphold human dignity, compassion and coexistence. We seek to build bridges of understanding based on essential values, to advocate for an end to violence, and to inspire communities to live out the timeless values of respect, compassion and peace.”

“An eye for an eye can never put an end to suffering,” adds Bishop Lumon. “It can only multiply it, widening the circle of pain until justice itself begins to lose its meaning. This stands in contrast to the Christian conception of the sanctity of life: even in suffering and division, the possibility of redemption remains; even in violence, the call is not to destruction but to reconstruction. To choose compassion instead of vengeance, peace instead of violence.”

“We do not know the government’s intentions,” concludes the Archbishop of Imphal. “We can hope for the best and set aside anger and the desire for retaliation.”