Churachandpur (Manipur) [India], May 14 (HBTV): The Zomi Students' Federation–General Headquarters (ZSF-GHQ) on Thursday condemned the attack on church leaders and civilians that left three Thadou Baptist Association (TBA) pastors dead.
In a statement, ZSF-GHQ said the incident, in which church leaders and civilians were mercilessly attacked and killed, has 'shaken the conscience of all right-thinking Christians.'
The Zomi Students' Federation declared a shutdown in town areas from 6:00 pm on Wednesday 'as a sign of mourning for our departed souls.'
The federation termed the attack 'unprecedented,' stating that amid ongoing communal tension and ethnic violence affecting all sections of society, 'today’s targeted attack on church and religious leaders is unprecedented to say the least.'
It added, 'We pray that such incidents never occur in the future.'
The Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) in Churachandpur also expressed strong condemnation over what it described as the 'heinous ambush and brutal killing of innocent TBA church leaders' between Kotjim and Veitum/L. Jangnomphai on the morning of May 13.
The organisation termed such acts against innocent civilians and religious leaders as 'utterly condemnable and unacceptable.'
The shutdown was called 'in honour of the departed souls and as a mark of protest against the continued failure of the state law enforcement agencies in curbing the activities of terrorist groups,' KSO said in a press release.
All shops in Churachandpur remained closed, marketplaces wore a deserted look except for emergency services, and vehicular movement in the town came to a halt.
(ANI)