The article examines how the killing of three church leaders on May 13 became a major turning point in the ongoing Naga-Kuki conflict in Manipur.The pastors, including Reverend Vumthang Sitlhou, had recently participated in a peace meeting in Kohima aimed at reducing tensions between the two communities.

While returning from another church meeting, they were ambushed and killed on the Tiger-German road, a strategically important route linking Kuki-majority areas.

Kuki organisations alleged that Naga militant groups were responsible, while Naga groups blamed Kuki armed outfits, leading to competing narratives over the attack.

The killings triggered a cycle of retaliatory violence, including abductions and murders of civilians from both communities, further eroding trust and making peace efforts increasingly difficult.The conflict, which had initially been concentrated in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts, spread into Kangpokpi, worsening the humanitarian situation.

The report also highlights the significance of the disputed Tiger-German road, which Kukis view as a vital alternative route bypassing the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley, while many Naga groups oppose it over concerns related to ancestral land and security.

As tensions intensified, economic blockades and movement restrictions disrupted the supply of food, fuel and essential goods, leaving several villages isolated.Residents from both communities described living under fear of armed groups, with civilians unable to travel safely and many families displaced.

The article argues that roads and geography have become strategic tools in the conflict, with competing claims over territory and transport routes deepening the ethnic divide and complicating prospects for reconciliation.