A Town Submerged, a Child Lost: Where Was the Help?

THE sky over Lamka had been threatening for days, but nobody expected the rain to steal a child. On June 11, 2026, 13-year-old Lamboikim, a bright Class VIII student, was swallowed by muddy, raging waters after falling into an open, flooded culvert at Laijon Veng. For two agonizing days, while her family wept and local volunteers desperately combed the debris with bare hands, the official rescue machinery remained completely silent. It was only today, June 13, a staggering 48 hours after she was swept away that the District Administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) finally arrived with their inflatable boats and high-tech gear. While the sudden flurry of official activity is welcome, it forces us to ask a painful, necessary question: why did it take so long to value a young girl’s life?

In a crisis, every second counts, yet our administrative system moved at a snail’s pace. The SDRF team leader promised they would not leave until Lamboikim is found, a sentiment that would be deeply comforting if it hadn’t come two days late. Why did the Sub Divisional Officer and the Deputy Commissioner require hours of paperwork and endorsements just to clear a rescue mission? While bureaucrats were signing files in dry offices, local youth clubs and civil society groups were braving treacherous currents and adverse weather without any proper infrastructure. This devastating delay highlights a shocking lack of urgency and empathy within our governance, exposing a system that prefers protocol over human survival.

SDRF TEAM

This tragedy is not just an act of nature; it is a direct consequence of civic neglect. The heavy rainfall did not create new problems; it merely unmasked the rotten state of Lamka town’s infrastructure. For years, residents have complained about poor drainage, open culverts, and neglected roads that transform into death traps with every major downpour. Lamboikim did not just fall into a ditch; she fell through the cracks of a broken civic system. The District Administration has consistently failed to look after the town or set up basic safety measures for its people. Leaving deep, uncovered culverts in a residential area during the monsoon season is not an oversight: it is criminal negligence, and the responsibility for this nightmare lies squarely at the doorstep of our authorities.

This heartbreak must serve as an urgent wake-up call for the entire district. We cannot continue to let administrative apathy and shoddy town planning cost us the lives of our children. The government must immediately audit and repair our drainage systems, cover every open culvert, and establish a rapid-response emergency protocol that deploys rescuers in minutes, not days. We owe it to Lamboikim’s grieving family to ensure that no other parents have to stand by a flooded road, waiting 48 hours for help that should have arrived in an instant. True governance is measured by how quickly it protects its most vulnerable, and right now, our leaders have a long way to go to earn back our trust.

~ Zogam Today | Editorial | 14.06.2026

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Dialogue Over Retaliation

THE fragile peace along India’s eastern frontier was shattered once again in the early hours of June 11, 2026. A brutal assault struck Kultuh, an old Kuki settlement nestled within the Tangkhul-Naga dominated Kamjong district of Manipur. Around 4:30 a.m., heavily armed militants descended upon the small village, reducing houses and a local church to ashes. Tragically, the raid claimed the lives of two respected community leaders: Letminlun Haokip, the Head Deacon, and Lunminthang Haokip, the Youth Chairman. In its immediate aftermath, the Eastern Kuki Chiefs’ Association released a press communiqué strongly condemning this “heinous and barbaric attack”, attributing the violence to armed cross-border groups operating from Myanmar. Similarly, the Kuki Women Union expressed deep concern over how these foreign-based militants could “move freely and operate within Indian territory”, raising serious questions about national security and the vulnerability of border residents.

This latest bloodshed does not exist in a vacuum; it is the continuation of a horrifying, tit-for-tat cycle of hostage-taking and targeted violence that has gripped the region for weeks. The current friction intensified on May 13 with the killing of three Kuki pastors, an event that triggered a desperate wave of retaliatory abductions by both Naga and Kuki groups. Just a day prior to the Kultuh village raid, on June 10, the Manipur Police recovered the bodies of six missing Naga hostages in Kangpokpi district. Though 14 Kuki men held by Naga groups were safely released on June 9, the discovery of the dead Naga men instantly renewed communal anxieties. This vicious circle of revenge has turned innocent civilians into pawns, ensuring that every act of violence on one side is met with swift, lethal retaliation on the other.

Between May 14 and June 11, thirteen Kukis and several Nagas lost their lives to this relentless unrest. On June 5, three Kuki civilians: Mr Letkhongam Haokip, his seven-month pregnant wife Tinmary Haokip, and Mr Jangmilal Haokip of Loibol were killed and their houses burnt down. Three days later, on June 8, a Rongmei Naga man, Mr Chunjanglung Panmei, was killed in Kangpokpi. The violence also claimed the life of a Kuki farmer, Mr Haokhogin Lhouvum, who was killed in Lasan, Tamenglong district on June 9. To prevent further innocent lives from being lost to this worsening crisis, the state government and its agencies must act carefully to nip the violence in the bud. A proactive strategy is urgently needed to secure vulnerable border areas and restore public confidence.

The path Manipur is currently treading is unsustainable and dangerous. If left unchecked, this cycle of hatred will inevitably lead to more bloodshed, pushing both tribes toward a catastrophic conflict reminiscent of the dark past. It is high time for the apex tribal leadership - United Naga Council and Kuki Inpi Manipur, to urgently sit down together at the negotiation table. They must bypass the state’s political paralysis and directly engage in an honest, collaborative dialogue to chalk out a roadmap for long-term peace and harmony. Only a unified, internal community-led effort can cool down passions, rebuild shattered trust, and ensure a stable future where both Kuki and Naga communities can coexist safely on their shared land.

~ Zogam Today | Editorial | 12.06.2026

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Journalism in Manipur: Moving Beyond Selective Truths

THE June 8, 2026 seminar on “Media for Communal Harmony and Responsible Journalism” in Imphal addressed a truly vital topic, yet it serves as a painful reminder of the state of our local press. Organised by the Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) and the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), the event saw media bodies gather to discuss peace and ethics. While discussing communal harmony is incredibly important, one cannot help but view this sudden urge for introspection with a heavy heart. For three years, since the devastating violence tore Manipur apart in May 2023, the silence and complicity from our capital’s newsrooms have been nothing short of deafening.

During the initial darkest stages of the conflict when arson and bloodshed consumed Imphal, the valley-based media seemed completely paralysed. Why was there such a collective reluctance to strongly criticise the violence? More importantly, why did our powerful media bodies, including the EGM and the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), fail to hold the government and the Chief Minister accountable for the breakdown of law and order? Instead of acting as independent watchdogs, many local dailies chose selective reporting. It is deeply distressing to see local electronic media running biased news and talk shows that explicitly target one community and blackened them as they liked. Is this ethical? One wonders why major media bodies failed to advise and correct these television channels. Rather than investigating the root causes of the tragedy, substantial energy was spent defensively countering the reports of national media, the Editors Guild of India (EGI), and human rights groups.

This compromised stance is further worsened by the institutional bias within the state’s own information machinery. The DIPR has consistently operated more like a public relations firm for the valley and the government, rather than an objective state organ. By focusing its press notes and resources almost exclusively on valley-based narratives, the directorate has routinely ignored the plight, perspectives, and ground realities of the outer districts. When a state’s information department chooses to look away from half of its territory during a humanitarian crisis, it does not just fail in its administrative duty; it actively deepens the emotional and geographical divisions that feed communal tension.

Given how crucial the topic of responsible journalism is today, this seminar must mark the end of compromised reporting. We genuinely hope that the editors, journalists, and media houses who attended will now find the courage to practice true, unbiased journalism that defends the truth, rather than suppressing it to fit a specific narrative. Real peace cannot be built on a foundation of selective amnesia or state-sponsored press releases. For Manipur to heal, our local media must boldly step out of the valley comfort zone, report strictly without fear or favour, and ensure that the voices of all affected communities across every single district are finally heard.

~ Zogam Today | Editorial | 11.06.2026

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Democracy Behind Closed Doors: The SIR Reality

THE wheels of Indian democracy are turning once again as the Election Commission launches the third phase of its Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Across Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Manipur, booth-level officers are tasked with going door-to-door to ensure the electoral rolls are flawless before the June 28 deadline. On paper, the goal is noble and precise: to ensure no eligible citizen is left out, and no ineligible name remains. It is an ambitious attempt to update the records for over 36 crore voters across 16 states and three union territories. Yet, while administrative machinery moves smoothly in peaceful regions like Odisha or Sikkim, applying the same rigid blueprint to a state fractured by conflict reveals a profound and troubling disconnect.

In Manipur, the idea of a standard “house-to-house” visit feels less like a bureaucratic exercise and more like a cruel joke. Since the devastating violence erupted in May 2023, thousands of homes have been reduced to ashes, and entire villages have vanished into wasteland. Hundreds of thousands of people have been uprooted, living in makeshift camps or fleeing the state entirely. How exactly are government officials supposed to knock on doors that no longer exist? Both the central and state governments have shown a shocking lack of accountability, failing to maintain an accurate, transparent record of exactly how many people have been displaced or where they have fled.

This administrative failure highlights a deeper, more painful negligence from both the central leadership in New Delhi and the state government. By pretending that a standard enumeration drive can function normally in a war zone, the authorities are effectively turning a blind eye to internally displaced persons. These survivors, who have already lost their homes, livelihoods, and sense of safety, now face the very real threat of losing their political identity. Forcing traumatized, displaced citizens to navigate complex paperwork or find an internet connection in a relief camp just to keep their right to vote is completely unfair. It represents a total breakdown of state responsibility, treating citizens as statistical data rather than suffering human beings.

A democracy is only as strong as its commitment to its most vulnerable citizens. If the government can spend vast resources on security forces and official exercises, it must find a way to actively seek out and register every single displaced person from Manipur, rather than letting ethnic divisions dictate who gets counted. True inclusivity cannot be achieved by sitting in comfortable offices and issuing deadlines while avoiding the ground reality. Until the state acknowledges the reality on the ground, stops hiding behind paperwork, and takes deliberate, compassionate steps to count those who have lost everything, this intensive revision remains an incomplete, hollow promise.

~ Zogam Today | Editorial | 09.06.2026

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A Morning of Hope: Resurrection Sunday 2026

Happy Easter to you all. Today, as the sun rises on this 5th of April, 2026, we gather to celebrate the most profound event in human history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a day where the heavy silence of the tomb is replaced by a song of victory, and the shadows of Friday are finally chased away by the light of an empty grave.

The heart of our faith rests on a simple, life-changing truth: He is not here; he has risen. In the Gospel of Luke, we find the cornerstone of our hope: “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them... The men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.'” - Luke 24:1-6 (NRSV). 

The resurrection isn’t just a historical footnote; it is the ultimate proof that love is stronger than death and grace is louder than sin. Because Christ rose, we know that our struggles are not the end of the story. There is a promise of renewal for every broken heart and a fresh start for every soul.

A Weekend of Remembrance and Legacy: This particular Easter weekend carries a double weight of gratitude for our community. Yesterday, April 4th, marked a significant milestone - the foundation day of the Thangkhal Christian Association (TCA). Established in 1981 in M. Tanglian village, TCA was inaugurated by Rev. H. Chinzakhai (Sia Khai), with the foundation stone unveiled by Pu Khuphenpau, President of Thangkhal Peoples Organisation (TPO). 

Since its inception, TCA has served as the primary vessel for spreading the Gospel throughout the Thangkhal community. It is a legacy of faith that continues to sustain us decades later. In honour of this foundation day, the members of Thangkhal Baptist Church (TBC-ABA) Delhi, led by our local pastor, Thangdoulal and social worker, MG Muanlal Thangkhal, made a poignant visit yesterday. Our members gathered at the Alpha Christian Cemetery in Vijay Vihar Rohini to visit the burial site of Rev. Khaikhanthang, who began as an evangelist since the inauguration of TCA. Standing there, we were reminded that while we mourn our leaders, we do not mourn as those without hope. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead ensures that those who sleep in Him will also rise.

We also have a quiet reason to smile as we look at our church news today. By the grace of God, our TBCD Sunday Newsletter is officially entering its 5th year. Since its start on 20 March 2022, it has been a small but steady bridge connecting our hearts and sharing the Word. It is a testament to God’s faithfulness in the small things that grow into lasting traditions.

As we celebrate this Resurrection Sunday, our hearts are full. We offer our deepest thanksgiving to God for the gift of His Son. We remember with pride our TCA Foundation Day and the pioneers who paved the way. We celebrate the 5th anniversary of our newsletter, and above all, we rejoice in the Risen Christ. May the joy of the empty tomb fill your homes and your hearts today. 

Hallelujah, He is risen indeed!

~ TBCD NEWSLETTER | EASTER SUNDAY | 05.04.2026

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Thiaumuanlal Guite Wins F3 Strike Combat Championship in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, July 29, 2025 — Thiaumuanlal Guite, a 20-year-old Zomi martial artist hailing from Kangkap village in Churachandpur district, Manipur, has secured a remarkable win at the F3 Strike Combat Tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event, hosted by the Persatuan Mixed Martial Arts Kuala Lumpur, brought together top-tier fighters from across the region in a highly competitive showdown.

Competing in the flyweight division (52.3 kg – 56.7 kg), Guite delivered a series of impressive performances. He defeated Tay Yi Heng in the semi-finals on May 18, followed by consecutive victories over Muhammad Yusuf and Nadhir Izzat in the July 27 finals. His triumph earned him the championship title, a prestigious belt, and a cash prize of ₹18.44 lakh (approx. MYR 105,000).

The youngest of seven children of Kamlianpau and Ngailianmawi, Guite began training in martial arts in 2018 under Master DC Khup. His early achievements include a silver medal at the Manipur State Olympic Judo Championship (2019) and another silver in a professional boxing event in Delhi (2020).

His rapid rise continued with a landmark win in 2024 at the Clash of the Titans: Inside India's Premier MMA Championship – Knockout Combat League, Season 3, where he claimed a championship belt. To date, Guite has earned three championship belts and seven gold medals across various national and regional combat sports events.

In pursuit of excellence, Guite underwent professional MMA training in Thailand, sponsored by the EBC Church. He trained at the acclaimed Tiger Muay Thai Centre in Phuket, becoming a certified Muay Thai coach — a testament to his commitment and growing stature in the sport.

Next on his competitive calendar is the One Pride Fighting Championship in Indonesia, where he aims to further establish his presence on the international MMA circuit. With discipline, talent, and a growing list of accolades, Thiaumuanlal Guite is a rising force in Asian martial arts.

ZSF Congratulates Mr Thiaumuanlal

YPA BENGALUR KIPAHPIHNA THUPUAN: THIAUMUANLAL

Thiaumuanlal Guite Wins F3 Strike Combat Championship in Malaysia

~ KHALVONTAWI NEWS

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St. Rock’s Girls HS KUKI-ZO Students: EMPOWERING HOPE through PRAYER and CARE

ON THIS 31 March 2025 evening, around 4:30 pm, a visit was made to St Rock’s Girls’ High School in Bengaluru, where a group of our beloved children, the Kuki-Zo young girls, is receiving free education and accommodation. Displaced by the violence in Manipur, they now reside here, as many of their villages have been destroyed.

These children are studying under the loving and affectionate care of Catholic sisters, who nurture them as their own.

In addition to their studies, these kids love football, and no doubt, they are good, better than their local peers.

With 30 lollypops in hand, they were met, and the sweets were joyfully shared with them.

My dear young sisters, please remember these three things in your heart: Be Obedient, Be Punctual, and Be Studious.

Most importantly, be prayerful. When waking up, before doing anything else, fold your hands and pray - thank God and ask for His blessings for the day. And before going to bed, pray to God as well.

We should pray for our teachers, our families, and our friends here. We must also pray for one another. Whenever feeling unwell, sad, angry, or burdened with any bad feelings: “call upon God / pray to God”.

Jeremiah 33:3 (NRSV) says:
“Call to me, and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

In times of difficulty, call upon God. God is good -- always ready to help and waiting for our call.

As we all know the situation at home, do not worry. God is with us all. Study hard to become successful - a doctor, an engineer, a pilot, an army officer - whatever you dream of.

It is our hope that God will grant us our aims and ambitions.

Looking forward to seeing you as doctors, officers, engineers, and more when we meet again.

Wishing them, blessing them with a word of prayer.

🙏💚May God bless St. Rock’s Girls’ High School and its Students!💚🙏

God Be With You All Till We Meet Again.

Kuki-Zo Children: A JOURNEY for EDUCATION & HOPE from MANIPUR to BENGALURU

Kuki-Zo Children: Empowering the Students for a Better Tomorrow

Motivating Kuki-Zo Students in Bengaluru

Parting Ways: Mangaluru

~ Bruce K. Thangkhal
Bengaluru | 31.03.'25

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

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GAWTNA CHI 10TE HILCHETNA (10 Plague)

Egypt gam a Gawtna Chi Sawmte Pasian in bang dei na zieh a atunsa e? Tuami akhietna anei ei? Aw leh amoh tunsah maimai adiei?

~ Pastor M. Thangboi Zou

Thumapui: Amasan tam Ruth Messanger simtu zousie ka jatatna Chibai ka hing buh hi.

Pastor M. Thangboi Zou

Pawtdohna Bung 6-11 na sunga Pharaoh leh Egypt mite tung a siltung khu, alian aneu atheilou um nonlou, Pasian in Egypt mite tunga atunsa Gawtna Chi Sawmte (10 Plague) thu ahi, nanleh bang zieh Pasian in Egypt mite tunga tami atunsa adiei? chi thei siemlou bang ki um thei ding hi, akhentten bang ahiding mawng aveleh amuate Pasian gingtaloute ahi zieh un, chia ngaisun pawl bang kium thei ding hi. Pasian in leitunga silkhat aumsah chienga amot umsah hilou in, azieh neia atunsa/ aumsa ahizaw bou hi.

Tua a ahileh, bangzieh pentah a Pasian in Egypt mite tunga tambang Gawtna Chi Sawm atunsa adiei? chia lungdong aum khaleh Pasian in Egypt mite guoh gawtlou in, amauten ana bieh (worship) uh a pasienpa leh pasiennu (gods & goddess) uh douna a atunsa ahizaw bou hi.

Pasian in tami gawtna chi sawmte atunsa na ziehte tam anuoi a bang in en chien vai ei:

i)          Nile lui sisan suo: Nile Bawngtal pasienpa “Hapi/Apis”, Nile pasiennu “Isis”, Nile luiveng Belamtal pasien leh pasien dangte douna ahi (Exo. 7: 14-25).

ii)         Ukeng a gawtna: Ukeng banga Lu (head) nei a pasiennu uh “Hekt” douna ahi (Exo. 8: 1-15).

iii)        Hitpi a agawtna: Senel pasienpa “Set” douna ahi (Exo. 8: 16-19).

iv)        Thou a gawtna: Ni pasien (sun god) “Re”, thou a kilang “Uatchit” pasienpa douna ahi. Tualeh Thou (flies) pasien “Bel-zebul/ Katkoke” douna atunsah akichi hi (Exo. 8: 20-32).

v)         Hima a gawtna: Bawngpi Lu bang anei “Hathor” pasiennu, guolzawlna pethei Bawngtal pasien “Apis” te douna ahi (Exo. 9: 1-7).

vi)        Uilutpi a gawtna: Natna tunga thunei “Sekhmet” pasiennu, gimna pasiennu Sanu, damna pasiennu “Isiste” douna ahi. Tualeh “Typhon” douna ahi. Typhon ahileh, mi suhdamthei (healing) pasien chia agel uh douna atunsah ahi hi (Exo. 9: 8-12). 

vii)       Giel a gawtna: Van pasiennu “Nut”, bu-le-bal hauna pasien “Osiris”, huipi pasien “Set” te douna ahi (Exo. 9: 13-35). 

viii)      Khauphe a gawtna: “Sarapis” pasien douna ahi. amauti ngaidan in tam a pasien uh Sarapis un Khauphe apat ahing veng doh thei hi achi zieh ua Pasian in Khauphe pasien uh douna dingin Khauphe zang in agawt hi (Exo. 10: 1-20). 

ix)        Miel a gawtna: Ni pasien “Re leh Horus”, van pasiennu “Nut leh Hathorte” douna ahi (Exo. 10: 21-29). 

x)         Tapa Upapen shina: “Ptah” pasien douna ahi. amaute ngaidan in tam a pasien uh “Ptah” khu “Hinna pasien” chia agintat zieh ua Pasian in Ganta upapen leh Tapa tahpen zangin shita/ tahhan toh agawt hi. 

Tualeh Gendan dang khat in, Nau neitheina pasien “Min”, numeiten nau anei chieng ua naudom pasiennu “Heqet”, aching/ akem pasiennu _“Isis”, tualeh pasien khat banga ana gel uh “Pharoah tapa”, amaute douna ahi hi (Exo. 11: 1-12:30). 

Akhupsitna: Egypt mite tunga Gawtna Chi Sawm tungte tun bangzieh tung ahiei, chi na chieng tai ma? Miten hing dong uleh a zieh na genthei ta diei ma? Tamna Gawtna Chi Sawm (10 Plague) tungte pansa ka hing lanuom ahileh, Pasian theilou a hinkhuo zangte maban khu Egypt mite tuasa gimneizaw ahidan thei chietlei chia mawl tah a tami ka hing gel ahi. Pasian thupina, Hattungnung Pasian ahidan leh Guoljoupa Pasian ahidan theisiem a A deidan a hinkhuo zat theichiet din tami thu simtu zousie Mangpa Pasian in hing umpi in hing guolzawl chiet tahen.

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Manipur Arms Loot!

 

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'Salai Taret' flag implanted on Cross in Manipur (with videos)

Pic: St. Joseph Sugnu Catholic Prayer Mount, Manipur.

VIDEO

A Salai Taret Flag formed by the seven colors, representing each of the seven Salai/Clans of the Meitei People - Ebudhou Pakhangba is the supreme God of the Meitei tradition as well as Manipuri mythology that is used as a heraldic emblem in Manipur. There are 7 Yek Salai / Clans -- Mangang - Luwang - Khuman - Angom - Moirang - Chenglei/Sarangleisangthem - Kha-Nganba.

Text Source: https://www.amazon.in/Dashboard-Salai-Ebudhou-Pakhangba-Figure/dp/B0CNPRWFTP#:~:text=%2D%20A%20Salai%20Taret%20Flag%20formed,are%207%20Yek%20Salai%20%2F%20Clans.

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KUKI-ZO CHURHCES BURNT / DEMOLISHED IN MANIPUR

Kuki Church in Imphal

Kuki Church in Imphal

VIDEO

Video

Residential Quarters & Church of Kuki-Zos 

in Langol, Imphal

Langol Game Village, Imphal

Langol Game Village, Imphal

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Source: KSO Media & Documentation Cell

#ManipurViolence

#SeparateAdministrationForKuki_Zo

#We want JUSTICE for KUKI-ZOs!

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Special Women's Day Issue | 10 March 2024

Courtesy: NIE Sunday Express | 10-03-2024

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