Ethnic violence in India escalates, with Christians on both sides

There are fears of further escalation in tensions among predominantly Christian Kuki and Naga communities, already in conflict over the past two months.

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The bodies of six tribal Naga Christians abducted last month were discovered earlier this week after an intense search.

The bodies were discovered in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur State, which borders Nagaland State to the south.

The victims’ remains – including those of at least two pastors – were reportedly mutilated and dismembered, sparking massive protests across Naga-inhabited areas.

The six men were among a group of civilians kidnapped from Leilon Vaiphei village in the Kangpokpi district following an ambush that killed three Kuki Baptist leaders were killed in an ambush.

Manipur police confirmed the recovery of the bodies in a social media post without specifying the location.

After nearly 24 hours of sustained search operations involving around 450 personnel, sniffer dogs, and forensic expert teams, the mortal remains of six persons were recovered this afternoon, the June 10 social media post said.

The police said legal formalities are being carried out, and the investigation is underway.

In response, Nagas also abducted Kukis.

The last 14 Kukis were released on June 9, following a federal government assurance to work out ways to end hostilities that claimed lives on both sides.

The Naga peoples are ethnically Tibeto-Burman groups native to northeastern India and northwestern Myanmar, while the Kuki people also live across much of the same area.

The death of six Naga men is feared to further escalate tensions among predominantly Christian Kuki and Naga communities, who were already in conflict over the past two months, say local sources.

Two Kuki leaders were killed in a pre-dawn attack on June 11, believed to be a retaliatory attack, in the Kamjong district of Manipur. In addition, armed men entered Kultuh village in Kamjong in the early morning, fired shots indiscriminately, and set several houses ablaze.

Crux Now spoke with Archbishop Emeritus Dominic Lumon of Imphal in Manipur.

“I can only lament what is happening,” Lumon told Crux Now, “this tit for tat, attacking villages, torching houses.”

The current Archbishop of Imphal, Linus Neli, has called for all communities in Manipur to unite behind an inclusive peace pact.

The archbishop “has appealed for dialogue, reconciliation, and the protection of innocent civilian lives amid the continuing violence and tensions in the state,” Lumon said.

“There is a growing loss of our sense of humanity,” he said. “As Christians,” he continued, “we belong to a redeemed humanity and are called to reflect its dignity, compassion, and hope.”

Noting the “historical wounds on both sides,” of a complex ethnic conflict, Lumon said vindictiveness only drives the cycle of violence.

“An eye for an eye can never bring an end to suffering; it only multiplies it, widening the circle of pain until justice itself begins to lose its meaning,” he said.

“In the pursuit of retaliation,” he said, “something even more precious is often lost—the sense of our shared humanity, the capacity to feel another’s suffering, and the recognition of the inherent dignity and worth of every human life.”

Against this stands the Christian understanding of the sacredness of life. Life is not merely to be preserved; it is to be honored and cherished as a gift from God, bearing His image and endowed with inviolable dignity.

“Christians belong to a redeemed humanity, one called not to perpetuate cycles of vengeance, but to witness to reconciliation, mercy, and the transforming power of love,” Lumon said.

“True justice,” he said, “seeks not the destruction of the other, but the restoration of what violence has broken and the affirmation of the God-given value of every person.”

In a statement “On Protection of Human Life and Pursuit of Peace,” Archbishop Neli expressed profound sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and the destruction caused by more than three years of conflict in the state.

He condemned all forms of civil violence, stating that no circumstance or justification can legitimize the taking of innocent human life.

Emphasizing the sanctity of life and human dignity, Neli said that deliberate attacks on non-combatants violate both moral principles and universally accepted human values. He extended solidarity to victims, their families, and all those affected by the ongoing unrest.

Calling for a shift away from retaliation and revenge, the current archbishop also advocated forgiveness, restorative justice, and truth-telling as essential elements for rebuilding trust among communities.

He stressed that sustainable peace could only emerge through continuous inter-tribal and inter-community dialogue, supported by both traditional institutions and modern mediation mechanisms.

The church leader also linked peace to inclusive development, arguing that equal opportunities, shared governance, and economic justice are necessary to address grievances and strengthen social cohesion.

He further called for progressive disarmament, accelerated peace-building initiatives, and enhanced cross-border cooperation to support economic growth and regional stability.

In one of the statement’s key proposals, Archbishop Neli urged all communities in Manipur to come together and forge an inclusive peace agreement that could serve as a historic turning point for future generations.

Referring to the possibility of a collective settlement, he envisioned a future accord that could be remembered as the “Manipur Agreement 2026.”

The archbishop urged citizens of all backgrounds to reject violence, protect human life, and commit themselves to dialogue and reconciliation, and reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s support for initiatives that promote healing, accountability, and peace.