Three Baptist Pastors Killed in Manipur Ambush After Peace Conference
Three Baptist pastors were shot and killed in an ambush in Manipur, India, on May 26, 2026, just hours after attending a peace conference. The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting Christians in the northeastern state.
Three Baptist pastors were killed in an ambush in Manipur, India, on Monday, hours after they attended a regional peace conference aimed at reducing ethnic tensions in the state.
The men were traveling by road when gunmen opened fire on their vehicle. Local church leaders confirmed the deaths and called for an immediate government investigation.
Manipur has seen ongoing violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since 2023. Christians, who make up a significant portion of the Kuki-Zo population, have been frequent targets.
The Evangelical Fellowship of India condemned the killings and called on federal authorities to provide better protection for religious leaders in conflict zones. "These men were peacemakers," said a statement from the organization. "They died trying to bring communities together."
The Indian government has deployed additional security forces to Manipur, but church leaders say attacks on Christians continue with little accountability. Several churches have been burned in the state over the past two years.
International Christian advocacy groups, including Open Doors and Release International, have documented hundreds of incidents targeting Christians in Manipur since the violence began.
