14/05/2026
NORTH EAST INDIA IS SLOWLY TURNING INTO A KILLING ZONE — A REGION OF FEAR, BLOODSHED, ARMED VIOLENCE, AND GROWING INSECURITY.
14/05/2026
It is with deep pain and anguish that I condemn the barbaric and inhuman killing of innocent Church leaders in Kangpokpi, Manipur. This horrific act must become a turning point for the conscience of North East India. Enough is enough. The blood of innocent servants of God cannot continue to flow upon our land while leaders remain silent spectators and society gradually normalises violence in the name of tribe, politics, revenge, ideology, supremacy, and armed movements.
The brutal murder of these unarmed and peace-loving Church leaders is not merely an attack upon individuals; it is an attack upon humanity, Christianity, civilisation, morality, and the sacred values of coexistence itself. It is a direct assault upon peace, faith, justice, and the future of North East India.
Ironically and tragically, North East India — particularly the tribal belt — is predominantly a Christian region. Churches of every denomination stand in almost every village, town, and corner of the region.
Thousands of churches, millions of Christians, and countless theologically trained Church leaders continue to preach the Gospel of peace, love, salvation, and humanity.
Yet as such, not much massive impact on our tribal Christians.
Sophisticated high-tech weapons have replaced trust, brotherhood, and peaceful coexistence. Peace, stability, and meaningful development now appear far beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
The colonial mindset embedded in Indian political policies and governance towards North East India remains one of the root causes of recurring conflicts, divisions, distrust, and instability across the region. Decades of political negligence, divisive policies, exploitation, militarisation, and failure to address the aspirations of the indigenous tribal people have pushed the region into cycles of violence and unrest.
Christians are called to proclaim the love of God, demonstrate compassion, uphold truth, and become the light and salt of society. Churches are established to serve humanity, save lost souls, and advance the Kingdom of God through peace, reconciliation, and service.
Yet today, the same Christian-majority tribal regions are increasingly becoming zones of killings, fear, hatred, and distrust among brothers and fellow Christians themselves. Tribals are turning against tribals. Christians are shedding the blood of fellow Christians. Innocent civilians are living under fear. Travelling from one tribal region to another has become unsafe. Trust has collapsed. Humanity is wounded. Brotherhood is dying.
If the Christians and Church leaders of North East India continue to remain divided by tribalism, denominational politics, selfish interests, and regional hatred, the region will gradually lose its spiritual foundation, moral authority, social harmony, and Christian witness before the world. Churches cannot remain confined only to pulpits, funeral services, condolence meetings, flower bouquets, and emotional social media posts while innocent lives continue to perish before our eyes.
This is the hour for every Church leader, civil society organisation, student body, youth organisation, intellectual, and political leadership across North East India to rise above tribal divisions and stand united against hatred, armed violence, bloodshed, extremism, and fear. Silence in the face of evil is itself a betrayal against humanity and against God.
The perpetrators behind this heinous and unforgivable crime must be identified, exposed, and brought to justice without fear or favour. No ideology, no armed revolution, no tribal supremacy, no political propaganda, and no justification whatsoever can legitimise the killing of innocent and defenceless servants of God.
North East India must not become a land remembered only for ambushes, killings, distrust, tribal bloodshed, and endless conflict among brothers. The region must rise again as a land of peace, dignity, humanity, faith, justice, reconciliation, and coexistence.
I appeal all the Church leaders to come together and work together and form a Peace Committee to address the problems and issues prevailing in the North East Indian regions.
My condolences to the bereaved family members of all the slain servants of God.
May the departed servants of God rest in eternal peace, and may their sacrifice awaken the sleeping conscience of North East India before it is too late.
From Kon Jirjo
Arunachal Pradesh
