Three Baptist Pastors Killed in Manipur Ambush After Attending Peace Conference

Three Baptist pastors were killed in an ambush in Manipur, India, after attending a peace conference in May 2026, according to reports from Christianity Today and international Christian news outlets.

The killings highlight the ongoing ethnic and religious violence in the northeastern Indian state, where Christians have faced targeted attacks amid a broader conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that has been ongoing since May 2023.

The three pastors were traveling home from a peace conference when they were ambushed. Their deaths drew condemnation from Christian organizations in India and internationally, with calls for the Indian government to provide greater protection for religious minorities in the region.

Manipur has a significant Christian population, particularly among the Kuki-Zo tribal communities. Churches have been burned, pastors have been targeted, and thousands of Christians have been displaced from their homes since the conflict began.

The violence in Manipur has received relatively little international attention compared to other religious persecution crises, but Christian advocacy organizations have been pressing the Indian government and international bodies to address the situation.

Christianity Today's May-June 2026 issue included reporting on the Manipur situation as part of its broader coverage of Christian resilience in the face of persecution. The magazine noted that churches in the region have continued to function despite the violence, with many congregations meeting in displacement camps.

International Christian Concern and other advocacy groups have called on the U.S. government to raise the Manipur situation in diplomatic discussions with India, noting that the scale of displacement and destruction of churches constitutes a serious religious freedom crisis.