05/13/2026
Tragic Loss of Thadou Baptist Church Leaders
Deeply shocking news from Kangpokpi district, Manipur, India. Four people, including senior leaders of the Thadou Baptist Church and a driver, were ambushed and killed while returning from the United baptist church conference. Among them was Rev. Vumthang @ V. Sitlhou, a respected church leader, peacemaker, and former General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC).
Rev. V. Sitlhou had recently participated in a peace mission with the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) in Kohima, working toward reconciliation and understanding between communities. His sudden death has deeply shaken many who knew him for his commitment to peace and church service.
He was the son of Late Pakho Sitlhou, one of the pioneering Thadou Christian missionaries who played a major role in the early spread of Christianity among the Rongmei community in Manipur. During the 1930s, Late Pakho Sitlhou devoted his life to missionary work among the Rongmeis, contributing significantly to translation work, hymn writing, and early Christian literature such as “Ragwang Lu” (Divine Songs), which helped shape early Rongmei Baptist worship and devotional life.
The loss of Rev. Vumthang, along with the other victims including church leaders and a driver, has brought deep grief not only to the Thadou Baptist Church but also to many across the region. It is being mourned as a loss of leaders dedicated to peace, service, and faith.
Violence against unarmed religious leaders is a tragedy that deepens pain and division. Pray for the bereaved families, the injured, and for healing, justice, and lasting peace in Manipur, India.