**
Mizoram Legislative Assembly Speaker in MIC lamkaite kimupi
Tuni zinglam 8:30 am sharp Mizo Time, (Manipur time hilou) in Pu Lalbiakzama, MLA, Hon. Speaker Mizoram Legislative Assembly, in Mizo Integration Council (MIC) Office, Thangjam Road ah visit na nei a, hihun ah kipawlkhawmna hun Program tomkim MIC Executive te toh jangkhawm hi.
Hihun ah Pu Hon. Speaker Mizoram in a geen na ah, MIC in hajsatna tampi natuah mdithei uh ajiah chu i Zufa Unau te tamtah hiam leh thal toh kithuam in a um uh, hute kihaupih leh kidoupih ding ihidih a, unau khat suangtu khat ihi vua lungkhat leh thukhat a luang khawm a khovel a namdang te heettheih leh jahkham hih khuh thil poimohjaw ahih dan hilh jawk diing.
I gaal te ahaat hun ah unau ihihna uh kithei tuah in ipangkhawm thei vua, igaal te a haatnonlouh hunhun ah eimah unau kasl ah thuneih kituh in ibuai jel uh.
Mizo hi hih khovel heet a kisuanglah umlou tah ahi tuni in. India sung ah jong most incorrupt state ihi a, insurgency free state, most peaceful state te ihi uhi. Hujiah in lungkhat in Mizo ah kipumkhat in midang leh namdang te zahtheih namkhat hithei din ZOFATE khanglou in pangkhawm taniu.
~ MIC WA
ZUF Appeals Release of Hostages
ZUF: Press Statement
16th May 2026
Appeal for Immediate Release of Innocent Hostages on Humanitarian Grounds.
KNO CHIEF Calls for PEACE Between KUKI and ZELIANGRONG
Ref No: ZG/OP 1-67/08 Dated Manmasi, 15 May 2026
Dear Brothers
Jianchui Kamei, Chairman, ZUF & Leaders of the Zeliangrong BAUDI.
Chibai!
I would like to start off this letter of mine, by pleading for your forgiveness with a heart full of inhibitions and the silent weight of recent events bearing heavily on my mind...as I type these lines.
Ever since the Meitei's perpetrated pogrom upon the Kukis, which began from the 3rd day of May, 2023. I'm aware of your speeches, your statements of support. I will not forget the kindness, the love and support you have rendered to us through your actions and your words.
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In recent times, the fratricidal feud among the Tangkhuls, which led to the killings of 4 cadres of the NSCN (EF) by the NSCN (IM) on March 28, 2026, in Hongbei village, Kamjong district, Manipur.
In consequence of which, around 5 houses of the Leaders of NSCM (IM) were burnt, even the house of Mr. V.S. Atem, this incident is very much in public knowledge.
After having washed their dirty linens in public, they are now deviously trying to pin the blame on Kuki Community as a whole, for the murder of the 4 cadres of NSCM (EF), nothing could be farther from the truth than this. Even those who are making these spurious accusations know fully well in their hearts that they are parroting and pandering a blatant lie. Now in a desperate attempt to cover up their fratricidal rivalries and cold blooded killings within their own organisation. They are now desperately
seeking to convert the issue into a pan Naga versus Kuki issue, which in reality was & is never the case.
The cold-blooded murder of 3 Kuki Christian leaders in an ambush on the 13th of May 2026, - Reverend V. Sitlhou and 2 other pastors died, which is evident enough of their Satanic ploy to further divide, spread confusion, destruction and enmity between communities in the region.
The recent ambush and brutal killing of Rev. V. Sitlhou in Manipur have shaken the conscience of our people and stands as yet another grim reminder of certain sections taking undue advantage of the deteriorating security situation prevailing in the hill areas.
Rev. Sitlhou, a respected servant of God and a man known for his unwavering commitment to peace, reconciliation, and humanitarian service, was killed in an ambush while returning from Churachandpur to Kangpokpi district along with fellow church leaders after attending a religious program when their
convoy was mercilessly attacked.
The incident has generated widespread outrage and sorrow across communities, with many civil society organisations, church bodies, and concerned citizens strongly condemning the heinous act.
Allegations emerging from various quarters have pointed toward the involvement of the so-called ZUF-Kamson faction, widely believed by many to function as a proxy aligned with the NSCN-IM network operating in the region. The cold-blooded targeting of unarmed church leaders and peace emissaries is not merely an attack upon individuals, but an assault upon the moral and spiritual fabric of society itself. Such acts of violence deepen mistrust among communities, inflame an already volatile situation, and undermine every sincere effort toward peace and coexistence in Manipur. The tragic death of Rev. Sitlhou therefore deserves not only solemn remembrance, but also a transparent investigation and justice so that those responsible are identified and held accountable before the law.
I am deeply pained by the knee-jerk re-actions of our youths upon my brethren, whose actions, I don't condole at all. I am still at a loss for words, from the moment I heard about it, until now. I keep seeing and reading the different press statements which you have made...even though we haven't met in person, I am nonetheless, truly grateful.
I must state here that Mr. Jinchui Kamei, the respected Chairman of ZUF, has emerged as a fearless and principled leader who continues to stand firmly for peace, truth, justice, and reconciliation at a time when Manipur remains deeply scarred by mistrust and ethnic tension.
In an atmosphere where even minor incidents are often manipulated and amplified to provoke wider communal hostility, Mr. Jinchui Kamei has consistently refused to succumb to pressure, fear, or divisive rhetoric. His courageous stance became particularly evident during the recent tensions arising from what was essentially a drunken altercation between certain Tangkhul and Kuki villagers - an unfortunate local dispute that some vested interests allegedly sought to magnify into a larger communal confrontation between the Naga and Kuki communities. Rather than allowing emotions, rumours, and inflammatory narratives to drag entire communities into unnecessary hostility, Mr. Kamei reportedly exercised restraint and wisdom, urging all sides to reject provocation and pursue peaceful understanding
instead.
By refusing to become embroiled in communal conglomeration and by discouraging attempts to weaponize a localized incident for broader ethnic mobilisation, Mr. Kamei demonstrated rare political maturity and moral courage. At a time when many leaders choose silence, opportunism, or inflammatory posturing, he chose the far more difficult path of truth and reconciliation. His actions sent a powerful message that isolated disputes between individuals should never be exploited to ignite inter-community hatred among peoples who have coexisted for generations. Such leadership is both timely and necessary for Manipur, where peace can only be sustained through dialogue, restraint, mutual respect, and the collective rejection of forces seeking to divide communities for political or militant gain.
It will be apt to mention here that the high-level coordination meeting convened by the United Naga Council on 24 April 2026 at the UNC Office in Tahamzam, Senapati, reportedly failed to arrive at a unanimous resolution for any escalatory course of action against the Kuki-Zo community after key
constituent civil society organisations from Chandel and Tamenglong districts firmly opposed any move toward full-scale confrontation.
The meeting, attended by representatives of various Naga apex bodies, student organisations, women’s unions, and district-level CSOs, exposed significant internal divergence within the broader Naga civic establishment regarding the question of war and communal escalation. In particular, the refusal of the Chandel and Tamenglong Naga CSOs to endorse any war mandate effectively blocked the adoption of a unified aggressive resolution, underscoring the existence of influential voices within Naga society advocating restraint, peaceful dialogue, and coexistence over violent confrontation. Their principled stand reflected a recognition that any ethnic conflict would disproportionately devastate border communities and further destabilize an already fragile region.
Zeliangrong Baudi leaders, It was a privilege for me to host an Agape Feast (Love Feast) for the former leaders. Wherein I presented a shawl to each one of them. Even with the new crop of leaders, I pray that the spirit of brotherhood between us will be renewed and strengthened evermore.
I also wrote an account of your history of how we have always lived together amicably, like the true brothers that we are, facing adversities & enemies together since Pu Jamchungnung Singson Kuki chief of Khongjang, and distributed the booklet.
Even in this present time and age, there will be Kukis who are still ignorant of this fact.
I take heart in the fact that I'd published the book for posterity, with the fervent hope that if the leaders today & in the future to come, know about our kinship, I am and will be grateful.
My earnest appeal to our Zeliangrong brothers and sisters, this is a time for wisdom, discernment, and restraint, not for being manipulated into a destructive cycle of ethnic hatred and bloodshed. We must carefully recognize and reject every ploy designed by certain elements to provoke a full-scale civil war between the Kuki and Naga communities, for such conflict will only bring ruin, displacement, and generational suffering upon our own people. Let us not allow the ambitions and political games of a few hardline elements to divide communities that have lived side by side for generations through both hardship and peace. The true strength of the Zeliangrong people has always been rooted in courage, prudence, and the ability to distinguish truth from provocation. Therefore, let us stand firmly for peace, dialogue, and coexistence, and refuse to become instruments in any devilish scheme that seeks to set the hills of Manipur ablaze with another tragic ethnic conflict.
I am in no way fit nor qualified to seek pardon from you all. But I do so, with folded hands, beseeching your forgiveness, for the irresponsible actions of our youngsters. Let's all live together in peace, love, unity and brotherhood.
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-(PS Haokip)
President, Kuki National Organisation
Zale'n-gam
MANMASI
Demeaning Christianity and Rethinking a Minor Alcoholic Brawl
Demeaning Christianity and Rethinking a Minor Alcoholic Brawl: The Litan Spark, Ethnic Memory, and the United Naga Council’s 2026 Clarion Call - Culminated into the Ambush of Kuki Church Leaders and Hostages on Both Sides
"A Documentary Reconstruction of Violence, Historical Trauma, and Political Mobilisation in Manipur"
- By: The United Kuki Council (UKC), Ref.No.15/UKC/(PR)/2026, Dated, the 15th May, 2026.
I. Introduction: When History Waits Beneath the Surface
In the hills of Manipur, violence rarely emerges in isolation. Beneath every local confrontation lies a deeper terrain of unresolved history-territorial nationalism, insurgent politics, ethnic memory, displacement, and inherited trauma.
What began on the evening of February 7, 2026, as what authorities and media initially described as a “minor drunken brawl” at Litan Sareikhong would, within months, evolve into one of the most politically sensitive ethnic crises in the hill districts of Manipur. Houses burned, villages mobilized, armed confrontations spread across Ukhrul and Kamjong districts, and ethnic organizations increasingly framed the conflict not as a law-and-order disturbance but as a struggle for survival, identity, and ancestral legitimacy.
By May 2026, the United Naga Council issued what it termed a “Call to Solidarity,” warning of an “undeclared war” against the Naga people and urging coordinated Naga mobilization across the region (The Sangai Express via e-pao.net, 5 May 2026; Nagaland Post, 4 May 2026).
To many within the Kuki-Zo community, however, the language of the UNC’s appeal carried deeply unsettling echoes of the early 1990s- particularly the “Quit Notice” period that preceded the massacres and displacement of thousands of Kukis during the 1992-1997 Manipuri Naga- Kuki conflict (India Today NE, 17 September 2018; Assam Tribune, 14 September 2022).
The crisis would ultimately culminate in one of the most shocking incidents of 2026: the ambush of senior Kuki church leaders belonging to the Thadou Baptist Association (TBA) in Kangpokpi district, an attack that symbolized how rapidly communal polarization had consumed even religious and humanitarian spaces.
This documentary reconstruction traces the trajectory from a drunken altercation in Litan to a spiraling ethnic conflict shaped by memory, militia mobilization, political rhetoric, and unresolved historical trauma.
II. The Spark in Litan - February 7, 2026:@ The Incident at Sareikhong
According to regional media reports, the crisis began on the evening of February 7, 2026, when a physical altercation broke out between a Tangkhul Naga youth identified as Sterling Shimray and a group of Kuki-Zo men at Litan Sareikhong after heavy drinking (NDTV, 10 February 2026; Christian Today India, 11 February 2026).
Shimray was allegedly assaulted and later shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, for treatment.
Initially, the incident appeared to be an isolated local confrontation. Yet Litan’s geography and demographic composition rendered the situation exceptionally fragile. Located roughly 35 kilometres from Imphal, the town is inhabited by both Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities living in closely intertwined residential and commercial spaces.
A local pastor interviewed after the violence reflected on the town’s earlier history: “Litan was the one place untouched during the 1993 conflict. They used to protect each other from any external problem.” (Christian Today India, 11 February 2026). Within hours, that fragile coexistence collapsed.
III. Night of Fire: February 8: Houses Burn and Fear Spreads
By the night of February 8, communal tensions had escalated dramatically. According to The Sangai Express, automatic gunfire and rifle shots echoed through Litan Bazar between approximately 11:30 pm and midnight, triggering widespread panic (The Sangai Express via e-pao.net, 12 February 2026).
Mobs torched houses and government quarters despite prohibitory orders issued by District Magistrate Asish Das (NDTV, 10 February 2026).
Initial police estimates suggested that approximately 25 houses and four government quarters were burned during the first wave of violence (NDTV, 10 February 2026). Subsequent assessments later placed the number of torched or damaged houses at nearly 50 (Hindustan Times, 19 March 2026).
The administration imposed curfew restrictions, suspended internet services across Ukhrul district for five days, and blocked movement along the Imphal- Ukhrul road (The Sangai Express via e-pao.net, 12 February 2026).
The Tangkhul Naga Long subsequently declared a state of emergency in Ukhrul town. Communal mobilization intensified rapidly:
i) women conducted night vigils,
ii) local defense groups emerged, nd reports surfaced of women stopping security vehicles in Kamjong amid growing mistrust toward state forces (The Sangai Express via e-pao.net, 12 February 2026)
Government officials also confirmed that movement restrictions were imposed on Kukis in parts of Ukhrul and Kamjong districts, indicating that the violence had evolved beyond sporadic arson into social and communal segregation.
IV. Militarisation of the Hills- March 2026: Gunfights and Defensive Mobilisation
The violence gradually transformed into an armed confrontation.
On March 19, 2026, suspected Kuki militants armed with heavy weapons allegedly attempted to enter Sirarakhong village, resulting in a gunfight with Tangkhul village volunteers (Hindustan Times, 19 March 2026).
Simultaneously, gunfire erupted near Lungter hill range close to Sinakeithei village. Village authorities alleged that “Kuki militants opened fire from their bunkers,” including positions reportedly dismantled earlier by security forces (Hindustan Times, 19 March 2026).
The conflict increasingly militarized civilian life: villages organized patrols, civilians conducted night watches, and communities began perceiving coexistence through the lens of territorial defense.
The humanitarian impact deepened: 51 Kuki students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Ukhrul were evacuated to Kangpokpi district, families fled vulnerable settlements, and emergency political negotiations were initiated involving Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Saikul MLA Kimneo Haokip, and Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah (The Sangai Express via e-pao.net, 12 February 2026). Despite these efforts, distrust continued to spread.
V. The Rise of Existential Narratives - The NSCN-IM and the Politics of Territorial Anxiety
The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) later characterized the February violence as “calculated aggression” against the Tangkhul Nagas (Nagaland Tribune, 24 February 2026).
The organization accused the Government of India of allegedly enabling Kuki militant groups in order to undermine the Naga political movement. It further alleged questionable conduct by sections of the Assam Rifles during operations in the affected areas.
Although these allegations remain contested and unverified, they significantly influenced public discourse within Manipuri Naga society. The conflict increasingly ceased to be viewed merely as a communal disturbance. Instead, Kacha Naga organizations framed it as an existential threat to ancestral land and identity, while many Kukis interpreted the rhetoric as the revival of older exclusionary politics associated with the 1990s violence.
VI. The UNC’s “Clarion Call” - May 2026: “An Undeclared War”
On May 3, 2026, the United Naga Council issued its now controversial “Call to Solidarity” addressed to major Naga organizations including the Naga Hoho, Global Naga Forum, Naga Mothers' Association, and the Naga Students' Federation (Nagaland Post, 4 May 2026).
The UNC alleged that Naga-inhabited districts including Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong, and undivided Senapati were facing an “undeclared offensive” by armed groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement (The Sangai Express via e-pao.net, 5 May 2026).
The statement framed the crisis as a direct challenge to Naga historical identity and territorial legitimacy: “Our ancestral domains are the covenant of our forefathers.” (The Sangai Express via e-pao.net, 5 May 2026).
The UNC further warned:
“If the fire at our doorstep today is ignored, it may reach every Naga doorstep tomorrow.” To many Kuki observers, the rhetoric bore alarming resemblance to the atmosphere preceding the 1993 violence.
VII. The Shadow of 1993 - The “Quit Notice” and the Memory of Massacre
The 2026 crisis revived painful memories of the 1992- 1997 Manipuri Naga- Kuki conflict.
According to Kuki commemorative accounts and journalistic reconstructions, organizations associated with the United Naga Council and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) issued “Quit Notices” directing Kukis to vacate certain areas before September 15, 1993 (India Today NE, 17 September 2018; Imphal Times, “Rumours and Bloody September”).
The violence that followed remains one of the darkest episodes in Manipur’s ethnic history. On September 13, 1993, massacres occurred across several villages including Joupi, Gelnel, Santing, and Nungthut (Assam Tribune, 14 September 2022). Kuki organizations estimate that: nearly 1,000 Kukis were killed, 360 villages uprooted, and approximately 100,000 displaced between 1992 and 1997 (Eastern Mirror Nagaland, 28 February 2014; Assam Tribune, 14 September 2022).
For many Kuki survivors, the memory of 1993 remains inseparable from contemporary fears regarding territorial rhetoric and communal mobilization.
VIII. The Border Violence Expands - Kamjong, Namlee, and the Myanmar Frontier
By May 2026, violence had spread into the Kamjong border region.
Naga organizations alleged that Kuki armed groups and Myanmar-based militants launched coordinated attacks involving military-grade weapons including drones and rocket launchers (National Herald India, 10 May 2026; The New Indian Express, 10 May 2026).
Simultaneously, Kuki armed organizations and groups such as the Village Volunteers Eastern Zone (VVEZ) claimed retaliatory operations in response to earlier attacks on Kuki villages including Lancha village (Hindustan Times, 9 May 2026).
Each side increasingly portrayed itself as acting defensively. The result was a dangerous cycle: every attack justified another retaliation, every rumor revived inherited trauma, and every political statement deepened communal suspicion. The hills of Manipur were once again becoming militarized along ethnic lines.
IX. The Ambush of Kuki Church Leaders - The Violence Reaches Religious Leadership
The crisis reached a devastating climax with the ambush of senior church leaders belonging to the Thadou Baptist Association in Kangpokpi district.
According to initial reports circulating in May 2026, church leaders traveling between Kotzim and Kotlen villages were ambushed by armed elements allegedly linked to the ZUF-Kamson faction and Village Volunteers in the region.
Among those reportedly killed was Rev. V. Sitlhou, identified in reports as a former General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC). The attack shocked communities across Manipur because the victims were not combatants, militants, or armed volunteers, but senior Christian leaders engaged in religious and community work.
The symbolism of the ambush was profound: churches had historically functioned as mediating institutions during ethnic crises, religious leaders often acted as negotiators and humanitarian coordinators, and Christian identity had long served as one of the few shared cultural frameworks across many hill communities.
The targeting of church leaders suggested that the conflict had entered a far more dangerous phase - one in which even spiritual and humanitarian spaces were no longer insulated from ethnic polarization.
For many Kukis, the ambush reinforced fears that the atmosphere developing since Litan was evolving into a broader communal confrontation. For many Nagas, meanwhile, narratives of territorial siege and insecurity continued to dominate public discourse.
The tragedy illustrated how rapidly fear, memory, militia mobilization, and retaliatory logic could overwhelm institutions traditionally associated with peace and reconciliation.
X. Conclusion: Between Historical Memory and Endless Retaliation
The tragedy of Litan lies not merely in how quickly a drunken altercation (that was already settled as per tribal tradition) was revived and escalated into communal violence, but in how deeply historical memory shaped every stage of the conflict.
In Manipur: burned houses recall older massacres, political rhetoric evokes inherited trauma, and every local confrontation risks becoming symbolic of larger existential struggles.
The February 2026 violence exposed the fragility of coexistence across the hill districts. The UNC’s “Clarion Call” reflected genuine anxieties among sections of Naga society concerning land, demography, and political security. Yet for many Kukis, the rhetoric revived memories of the “1993 Quit Notice” era in the name of UNC and fears of renewed ethnic persecution.
The subsequent ambush of Kuki church leaders demonstrated how rapidly communal polarization could penetrate even religious and humanitarian spaces.
Without credible accountability, inter-community reconciliation, demilitarization, and a durable political settlement addressing competing territorial visions, the hills of Manipur risk remaining trapped in recurring cycles of fear, retaliation, and historical trauma.
It is shameful for Manipuri Nagas and the Kukis to call themselves as Christians, where a Peace Negotitor from Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) Shri. Lalkhohen Thangeo was assassinated at Khuman Lampak by Manipuri Naga militants in 1993, just after UNC-KIM Peace Meeting at Imphal (The Morning Bell, 16th Sept. 2018), and the same repaeated by Kacha Naga ZUF(K) -NSCN-IM on the 13rd May 2026 upon Rev. V. Sitlhou (Thadou Baptist Association), A Peace Negotiator of Tangkhul-Kuki at Nagaland and team were ambushed and 3 mercilessly killed in cold blood (The Indian Express 14th May, 2026), and seriously wounding another 4 members of the team.
Official sources also cited that altogether 44 persons from Kangpokpi and Senapati districts belonging to both communities who were held hostages. Are being released through negotiators by the Manipur State Government under Dy. Chief Minister Mr. Dikho (The Hindu, May 14, 2026).
Issued by:
Department of Information & Public Relation,
United Kuki Council (UKC)
Choosing Peace: The Urgent Need for Kuki-Naga Dialogue
FOR generations, the hills of Manipur have been home to vibrant tribal communities who share deeply rooted histories and faiths. The Kuki and Naga peoples are not just neighbours; they are brothers sharing a profound bond as fellow tribals and Christians. Yet, recent tensions have cast a long shadow over this landscape. While we acknowledge the release of 14 Kuki hostages, it is deeply distressing that 14 others including young teenagers like 16-year-old Hengunsei and 17-year-old Tonggoulen remain in illegal detention. When communities with so much in common are divided, the weight of the crisis is felt by every family yearning for safety.
The latest statements from the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the United Naga Council (UNC), and civil society groups in Nagaland like the Nagaland Zeliang People’s Organization (NZPO), Zeliangrong Baudi (N), and Kuki Inpi Nagaland (KIN) reveal the raw anxiety of this moment. KIM has extended a Total Shutdown to demand the safe return of the remaining 14 individuals, while the UNC is working with the government to verify their status. Crucially, the joint appeal from the Peren district CSOs reminds us that these barbaric acts, especially following the tragic killing of church leaders, have no place among Christian societies. They rightly argue that such incidents should not be allowed to destroy the peaceful coexistence that has defined the tribes for decades.
At the heart of this appeal is a simple truth: the innocent must never be used as pawns. No individual or organisation should take the law into their own hands based on emotional outbursts. Because both communities share a foundation of faith that preaches grace and love for one’s neighbour, there is already a common ground to bridge this divide. Harming civilians only deepens wounds, making the road to reconciliation much harder for the next generation.
Lasting peace cannot be won through retaliation; it can only be built through genuine dialogue and the rule of law. The remaining hostages must be released immediately and unharmed to prevent further escalation. As the leaders from Nagaland and Manipur have voiced, we must contain this crisis before it spreads. Both Kuki and Naga leaders must choose the hard work of communication over the destructive cycle of violence. By resolving this crisis bloodlessly, these two resilient tribal groups can protect their shared heritage and secure the peaceful, stable future that their children deserve.
~ Zogam Today | Editorial | 16.05.2026
Manipur Revises Helicopter Service Routes
GOVERNMENT OF MANIPUR
DIRECTORATE: TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT
NOTIFICATION
Imphal, the 14th May, 2026
No. M-TPT/89/2023-DoTPT-DT: It is hereby informed to the general public that the previously scheduled helicopter services under the Manipur Heli Service have been revised with effect from 15th May 2026 till further orders, as follows:
Sunday
- Imphal – Jiribam – Imphal
- Imphal – Jiribam – Imphal
- Imphal – Lairouching – Imphal
Monday
- Imphal – Ukhrul – Imphal
- Imphal – Churachandpur – Mualpui – Lengpui-Churachandpur – Imphal
Tuesday
- Imphal – Jiribam – Imphal
- Imphal – Jiribam – Imphal
- Imphal – Moreh – Imphal
- Imphal – Churachandpur – Imphal
Wednesday
- Imphal – Tamenglong – Imphal
- Imphal – Lairouching – Imphal
- Imphal – Churachandpur – Imphal
- Imphal – Ukhrul – Imphal
Thursday
- Imphal – Jiribam – Imphal
- Imphal – Jiribam – Imphal
- Imphal – Lairouching – Imphal
- Imphal – Tamenglong – Imphal
Friday
- Imphal – Tamenglong – Imphal
- Imphal – Churachandpur – Mualpui-Lengpui-Churachandpur – Imphal
Saturday
- Imphal – Ukhrul – Imphal
- Imphal – Lairouching – Imphal
- Imphal – Churachandpur – Imphal
- Imphal – Ukhrul – Imphal
Booking & Enquiry Details
For the Imphal – Lairouching – Imphal route:
• Booking from Imphal to Senapati/Lairouching: 7005203080
• Booking from Senapati to Imphal: 8132073520
For all other routes, helicopter tickets may be booked online through:
heliservice.manipurtransport.gov.in
N. Parithoihen Meitei
Chief Finance Officer (Transport)
Manipur
Son Forgive Killers of Rev Sitlhou
On the morning of 13 May 2026, three innocent men — Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou, Rev. Kaigoulen, and Pastor Paogoulen — lost their lives in a spray of bullets, while four others were left fighting for their lives in hospital after militants ambushed them while travelling in two vehicles from Lamka to Kangpokpi between Kotzim and Kotlen villages in Kangpokpi district, Manipur.
The Kuki-Zo people expressed deep anguish over the killing of Rev. Dr. Sitlhou, describing him as a respected Church leader and peacemaker. According to KIM, Rev. Sitlhou had recently taken part in a peace mission alongside the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) in Kohima, aimed at fostering reconciliation, peace, and mutual understanding between the Kuki-Zo and Tangkhul communities.
According to sources, one of the deceased, Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou, was the son of Rev. Pakho Sitlhou, a prominent Kuki Christian leader credited with bringing Christianity to many Rongmei communities. Rev. Pakho Sitlhou had reportedly translated numerous Kuki gospel songs into the Rongmei language, contributing significantly to inter-community Christian outreach and fellowship.
Sources further stated that Rev. Pakho Sitlhou’s wife and Rev. Vumthang’s mother belongs to the Rongmei community from Sempang village.
Rev. Vumthang Sitlhou’s brother, Henkholen Sitlhou, is the founder of Presidency College, Motbung.
Rev. Vumthang himself had also served as the General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention and was widely respected among Christian communities in the state.
Meanwhile, around 14 Kuki civilians from Taphou and Hengbung remain unaccounted for amid the ongoing hostage crisis in Senapati district, Manipur. Families and communities continue to appeal for their safe release and return.
****
A grieving daughter poured out her pain and heartbreak after losing her father, Reverend Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou, who was killed in an ambush allegedly carried out by suspected Zeliangrong United Front (Kamson faction) militants backed by NSCN-IM on the morning of May 13, 2026, around 11 AM, between Kotzim and Kotlen areas in Kangpokpi district, Manipur.
Tina Sitlhou: I refused to accept that you’re gone, Dad, but reality keeps waking me up, and the pain cuts deeper each time. My heart is heavy with grief, and I keep asking God, “Why? Why did it have to be now?” You didn’t deserve the hatred and violence that took you from us, especially when you spent your entire life choosing peace and standing for what was right. What hurts even more is knowing that the people who took your life were the same my grandfather- your -father helped lead to Christianity. That truth is so painful to carry. The irony of it all is something I cannot understand right now.
Hepa, I’m going to miss you so much. I’ll miss waking up every morning to the Bible verses you always sent me. Those messages meant more to me than words can explain. 🫶🏼
Hepa, Rest in peace 🕊️. Your absence is felt in every breath, and the world feels quieter without you. May your memory live on like a gentle light in the darkness, bringing comfort to grieving hearts, healing where there is pain, and a fragile sense of unity where there has been loss.
Vumthang Sitlhou Hepa, I Love You So Much and I Will Miss You So Deeply…💔🥀
******
Click: 3 Kuki Pastors killed in Manipur
MIZORAM ALA IN HAWNG RENG
MIZORAM ala in hawng reng a nia history te chu kan zaia kan thatna tur chuan a thalo laite chu kan paihbo anga kan theihngih nghal bawk anga. A thalai kan zavaia that nan kan hmang leh mai ang👏🏻
Mizoram Hmar lam tan a Mizoram CM lo ni tawh leh ni mek te sulhu:
1. Pu Laldenga leh Ch Chhunga te 2 hi January 15,16 leh 18, 1965 Kawnpui, Ccpur, Manipur a Mizo People Convention ah khan an ni 2 baka telte chu: C Pahlira, Ch Saprawnga, Vanlalngaia, Lalhruaia, S Lianzuala, HK Bawichhuaka, R Vanlawma, VL Biakenga an pawl hmingte chu MNF, MNU, MNC.
An Agenda: Mizote rorelna pakhat hnuaia awm. Thu an tihthluk theih mai loh avangin April 1965 chhunzawm turin thu an dah.
Hun a kalzel a MNF ten March 01, 1966 ah Mizo Independence an puan tak avang khan Mizo People Convention April 1965 a chhunzawn tura an thu dah pawh kha vawin thlengin chhunzawm lohin a awm ta chu a nih hi.
India leh MNF inbiakna 1971 atanga tan a nih phat atang khan Mizo Ramhnuai Sawrkar khan Mizoram hmar lama tawng chi hrang hrang hmangtu hruaitute Mizoram a rinluh anih theih nan tiin Ramhnuai Sawrkar Civil officer te vawiduai lo a tir thin a mahse an hlawhchham ta vek a.
Brig T Sailo: 1988 May thla Champhai ah Bri T.Sailo leh a thawhpui ten Zo Re-Unification Movement atan tiin thutlukna an nei a, an phak tawkin chu movement chu an kalpui ta ngar ngar a.
Lal Thanhawla: A CM term hnuhnung berah khan Mizoram Assembly House ah,"Hei kan unau ten Kuki State kan demand a min pui rawh u, tiin min rawn hmu a puitling takin kan inkawm bawk a.
Cabinet te pawhin kan sawi ho a tha kan ti a kan sawrkar pawh hian a support a. Chuvangin, vawin a Assembly House a thu te pawh hian kan zaivaiin i support ang u",a ti a.
Tin kan unaute leh Kacha-Naga te saw Meitei sawrkarin Anti-Tribal Bill a passed khum avangin an thlavang hauh nan Central sawrkar in insawifiah tur an tih tak avanga a insawifiahna chu,"Blood is thicker than water", tiin a sawi ta hial bawk a.
Pu Zoramthanga: A CM laia hun hmasa ah khan an rawn hmu thin a, an thawhhona a that zawk nan tiin pawl alo dinpui a chu pawl UPF pawh tun thleng sawn anla ti nung reng bawk a.
A CM term hnuhnung ber huam chhung May 03, 2023 atang khan Meitei an rawn buai leh a. Anin,"Kei leh ka party hian 1966 atanga kan policy leh progm kha kanla kalpui reng a nia.
Tin kan unau te saw Buhfai leh tuialhthei ah chuan an buailo ang kan quata atangin kan phairai ve zel ang",a ti a Supply Dept Gov of Mizoram pawhin a bawhzui ngar ngar a.
Pu Lalduhawma a CM chiah a,"Kan unau te sawn rem an tih phei chuan Central sawrkar nena inbiak pawh ka kaihruai hreh lo a, kan inbiakna thupui atan pawh India danpui no.3 na tlawhchhanin India leh MNF inbiak pending a awm Greater Mizoram nise",a ti ta hial a nih kha.
~ ZoRo W/A Group
Echoes of a Harrowing Birthday | Evan Lienthuom Gangte
I WOKE early on the morning of 13 May 2026 and began my journey from Tuibuong toward Kangpokpi for the couples’ retreat organized by Kangpokpi Independent Baptist Church. The air carried the freshness of dawn, calm and full of promise. It was also my birthday, and the day seemed to begin with quiet joy. I was travelling with Rev. Khaizakham and Evan Lelet in a Bolero vehicle named Hekachoh. Our driver picked me up from Kashmir Veng before we collected Rev. Khama along the way. Together, we set out with hopeful hearts, looking forward to another spiritually enriching gathering. None of us imagined how quickly the day would darken.
As I look back now, one memory refuses to leave me: sharing breakfast that morning with the very pastors who would later lose their lives in the militant ambush. Ordinary moments suddenly feel sacred when viewed through the lens of tragedy. I remember Rev. Khama taking photographs with them as they smiled at the camera, unaware those would become their final pictures.
Though we were the first team to take off, the vehicle carrying Rev. V. Sitlhou, Rev. Paugoulen and Rev. Kaigoulun, overtook ours at Tupul, moving much faster than we were. About ten minutes later, we stopped briefly at Kotlien to refuel. During those few moments, horrifying news reached us: the vehicle ahead had been ambushed by armed militants. Our driver immediately halted. Silence filled our vehicle as the weight of the news settled upon us. One thought kept racing through my mind: Had we gone ahead first, would it have been us instead? In that instant, life felt unbearably fragile.
Soon after police and army personnel arrived, we proceeded toward the ambush site with trembling hearts. Nothing could prepare us for what we saw. The sight of three anointed pastors lying lifeless on the ground was devastating beyond words. Pastor Hekai Simte, who had miraculously escaped, recounted the horrifying incident to us. The bodies were later taken away in an ambulance, and Rev. Khama and I accompanied them. Our journey continued through Kanchup, then toward Imphal, before turning through Sekmai and entering Gamgiphai, where crowds of mourners lined the roads in grief and disbelief. By evening, we finally reached Kangpokpi.
We had arrived at our destination, but not in the way we had imagined.
Even now, I cannot fully comprehend how the Lord carried us safely through that valley of fear and death. The words of Scripture echoed repeatedly within me: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me.”
What began as a birthday filled with anticipation became a painful reminder of how uncertain and precious life truly is.
To everyone who prayed for us through this ordeal, Thank You!! Your prayers carried strength where words could not. And as the night fell over Kangpokpi, one question lingered quietly in all our hearts: would the camp still go on, or had grief already overtaken it?
*******
KWOHR calls Mass Rally for Justice
PRESS RELEASE
Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR)
Date: 15th May 2026
MASS RALLY FOR JUSTICE
The Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) strongly condemns the brutal murder of the three Kuki pastors and the continued proxy violence allegedly carried out by the Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM against the Kuki-Zo people. Such heinous acts of violence and targeted attacks upon innocent civilians and religious leaders are unacceptable and must not go unanswered.
In response to these repeated injustices, KWOHR is organising a Mass Rally for Justice to express our collective grief, protest against the ongoing violence, and demand justice, truth, accountability, and lasting political protection for the Kuki-Zo people.
Rally Details:
Venue: Koite – Wall of Remembrance, Tuibong
Date: 16th May 2026
Time: 12:00 PM onwards
The rally will also reaffirm the democratic and legitimate demand for Separate Administration for the Kuki-Zo people, ensuring safety, dignity, and peaceful coexistence for our community.
KWOHR hereby extends a heartfelt invitation to:
All media houses and press organisations
Civil society organisations
Student bodies and women’s groups
Church leaders and community leaders
Human rights defenders
The general public
We urge everyone to come forward and stand in solidarity with the victims and the bereaved families in this peaceful democratic protest for justice and human rights.
Civil society organisations
Student bodies and women’s groups
Church leaders and community leaders
Human rights defenders
The general public
We urge everyone to come forward and stand in solidarity with the victims and the bereaved families in this peaceful democratic protest for justice and human rights.
Let our voices unite against violence, injustice, and oppression.
Issued by:
Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR)
Kuki Hostages: Alive or Dead?
14 Kuki civilians from Taphou and Hengbung remain unaccounted for amid the ongoing hostage crisis in Senapati.
The names shown in the image, aligned chronologically with their photos:
1. Kaimang Kuki (48) – Taphou
2. Haominlun Kuki (30) – Hengbung
3. Lunsei Kuki (48) – Taphou
4. Hengunsei Kuki (16) – Taphou
5. Luntinlal Kuki (30) – Taphou
6. Paotinkai Kuki (50) – Taphou
7. Thangminlen Kuki (35) – Taphou
8. Thanglenmang Kuki (30) – Taphou
9. Tonggoulen Kuki (17) – Taphou
10. Paogouthang Kuki (35) – Taphou
11. Thangtinlen Kuki (35) – Taphou
12. Sehminhao Kuki (25) – Taphou
13. Sehginlun Kuki (28) – Taphou
14. Lamgoulen Kuki (30) – Taphou
Disturbing reports and rumours continue to emerge claiming some hostages may have been killed, causing immense fear and uncertainty among their families and loved ones.
We urge the Government of India and concerned authorities to ensure the safe release of all civilians and establish accountability.
A Journey Through Time: Life, Love, and Change
STEPPING back into Aizawl after twenty-five years felt like waking up in a dream. Standing on a corner in Bawngkawn on a sunny March day in 2026, the memories of the good old days came flooding back, bringing a bit of a lump to the throat. The city, perched high on a mountain ridge, remains a beautiful sight, but the way we travel here has been completely transformed. Today, Mizoram is connected to the rest of the country by rail. Thanks to the new services inaugurated by the Prime Minister in September 2025, one can now catch the Rajdhani Express from Sairang, just 20km from the capital. It is a long journey of over 2,500km to Delhi, but sitting on a modern train is a world away from how things used to be.
Back in May 2000, travelling to Aizawl was a true
test of strength. I remember the journey under a relentless downpour where the
bus simply couldn’t go any further because the Tuivai river had swollen so
much. At that time, there was no Tuivai bridge, or at least none that was safe
enough to use. To get across, we had to rely on a rope stretched from one
riverbank to the other. We sat in groups of five or six on a bamboo shaft,
dangling over the rushing water while men on the opposite side pulled us
across. Our luggage was hauled over the same way. By the time we reached the
bus waiting on the other side, we were soaked to the bone and covered in mud
from slipping down the hillsides. With no private place to go, we had to change
our muddy clothes right there inside the bus. Many of us rolled and slid down
the steep hillside toward the riverbank, while our luggage scattered
everywhere. None of us escaped the fall, and we were all soaked in mud. In
those days, that difficult journey from Lamka took over twenty-four hours and
cost ₹500. In August 2003, the then Chief Minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga, inaugurated it, thankfully making
travel easier.
.png)
Looking for the school that once felt like home -
where the days were spent teaching and the nights were spent as a warden - proves
difficult. The old signboard near the sub-post office has vanished, and the
building seems to have been swallowed by the city’s growth. Bawngkawn has always
been an important gateway to the capital, but it is much more crowded now. In
the old days, there was plenty of space to stroll along the roadside, but today
the junctions are packed with cars and motorbikes. At the busy places like
Zasanga Point and Zosangliana Point, traffic wardens work tirelessly,
signalling “Stop” and “Go” to a never-ending stream of cars and motorbikes, to
keep things moving. Even with the narrow footpaths and the sheer number of
people, these officers manage the chaos with a calm and steady hand, ensuring
everyone stays safe.
.jpeg)
Walking down towards the bazaar, the search for
familiar landmarks continues. The old houses that used to line the downward
steps are gone, replaced by tall, modern buildings. It is impossible to find
the home of a former student and his lovely sisters, a place that was once so
familiar and loved to be there. Even my old college has a new look; the gate is
now marked as a Govt. J. Thankima College Women’s Hostel has a proud history,
started in 1992 by local people who wanted better education for their children.
It began with the help of a kind businessman and grew through the community’s
own hard work. Thinking back to my own graduation in 2001, life was quite a
whirlwind. My marksheets were a bit of a mixture -- final year was under
Mizoram University (JTC), second year under NEHU (JTC), and first year under DMCollege, Imphal.
By 2002, the college had joined with another and became a government institution. The memories of the staff are still so clear: the friendly principal, the chatty clerk, and the wonderful teachers. My history teacher was particularly kind, often inviting us to her home for tea and snacks, treating us more like friends than students. In those days, life was a rush. College started at 6:00 am, and as soon as it finished at 9:00 am, I would race off to start my teaching job. Earning ₹1200 per month!
.png)
One of my favourite memories takes me back to the
IGNOU Study Centre at Hrangbana College. The centre always ran so smoothly
under the steady guidance of our coordinator, Pu Lalrinawma and the lady office
assistant. The day of our final exam was memorable, the air in the room was
thick with nerves. We sat at our desks with our hearts racing, watching our
coordinator as we waited for the question papers to be handed out. Right next
to me sat the famous singer, Liandingpuii.
On stage, her voice could move the soul of the entire Mizo nation, but here,
she was just another student. She sat hunched over her desk, working just as
hard as the rest of us to earn her Master’s degree. Once the exam began, a deep
silence filled the room - you could have heard a pin drop. No one spoke or even
looked up. We were all lost in our own worlds, our pens flying across the pages
as we fought a private battle against the clock.
Another memory that warms my heart is the arrival of a sincere letter from back home. I remember the flutter in my heart when a letter arrived from a young lass back home. We had only just fallen in love - the kind of love that is written in ink and whispered in promises - before life forced us apart. Her words would reach out to me across the distance, her handwriting carrying all the warmth I was missing. “When are you coming home?” she would ask. “Will you be here for Christmas?” It was a love that lived through those pages. Even though we were separated physically almost as soon as our hearts met, her letters were the thread that kept me connected to home. Every time I read her words, it felt as though she were standing right there beside me in the hills, her voice calling me back to where I truly belonged. Through the loneliness and the long letters home, I knew exactly why I was here: to earn a living and to learn the ways of the world. Thus, for me, Aizawl became a home away from home.
 |
| Cherished moments with beloved brother Lun Taithul (Rest in Peace). |
Today, we all carry smartphones, yet it feels
harder than ever to truly reach out. In those golden years, there was no
gadgets or screens to stay in touch; people were connected by heart and soul,
tied together by shared laughter and genuine conversation. Standing in the
bustling streets of modern Aizawl, the silence of a digital contact list feels
heavy. There is a deep, aching longing for those old mates, the wise teachers,
and the bright-eyed students who are now surely grown. Though the world is now
connected by wires and waves, it cannot replace the warmth of those old bonds.
One can only hope that, by some grace, another chance will come to look into
those familiar faces once more.
 |
| With my old friend, Sir Thangbawiha. |
While
lost in such moments of flashback, a sudden encounter with a motorbike taxi
brought the past back to the present. When the driver pulled off his helmet, it
was an old friend from those teaching days. We spent the afternoon catching up
at his home in Saikhamakawn, before he dropped me off to catch a city bus. On
the ride back, I chatted with the bus conductor - a hardworking woman running
the family business with her husband, the driver at the wheel.
The visit takes place on 26 March 2026, a month that holds a heavy weight in Mizoram’s history. The Indian government used the Indian Air Force to bomb Aizawl on 5 March 1966, targeting Mizo National Front(MNF) guerrillas. It has been sixty years since the dark days of 1966 when the region faced incredible hardship and conflict. People remember the hunger and the pain of villages being moved or destroyed. Yet, despite that difficult past, the Mizo people today carry a powerful spirit of unity. They live by a beautiful idea called ‘tlawmngaihna’ - the act of being selfless, helping others, and putting the community first.
Even though Aizawl is built on steep, rocky mountains
with tiny roads, the way people drive is a lesson in itself. There is no
aggressive honking or reckless rushing; everyone looks out for the safety of
others. There is a deep respect for one
another that makes the crowded streets feel orderly. It is a city where modern
buildings cover the hills, but the old values remain.
.png)
As you look around the city, you see houses that
seem to defy gravity, clinging tightly to the steep hillsides. Some are built
on incredibly tall concrete pillars – some reaching 20-30 feet high – just to
stay level with the road. It is enough to make your head spin if you look
straight down.
The buildings look as if they have been glued to
the slopes or are hanging by a tiny, thin thread. Living here feels a bit like
being a bird perched on the very highest branch of a tree; it’s beautiful, but
there is always a sense of danger. When the heavy rainy season arrives and the
water pours down the cliffs, life feels fragile. You can’t help but feel the
risk that these families face, living so high above the valley floor while the
clouds swirl around their windows.
.png)
Returning
to a place after decades proves that while buildings and roads will always
change, the heart of a community is what truly lasts. Aizawl teaches us that
progress doesn’t have to mean losing our manners; even in a crowded, modern
city, silence and patience on the road can exist if people value each other. The lesson for
anyone visiting this high-altitude city is simple: be ready for a lot of
walking up and down steep steps, but more importantly, be ready to be honest
and friendly. If you carry that same spirit of tlawmngaihna with you, you will find that even though places change
and buildings disappear, the kindness of the people remains the true heart of
the home. Embracing this selfless way of living is the best way to navigate
both the narrow streets of Aizawl and the journey of life itself.
~ Bruce K. Thangkhal | Zogam Today | 15.05.2026
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***
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