Catholic clergy and nuns in northeast India are fleeing the region due to violent clashes between two Christian indigenous tribes that have led to kidnappings and deaths, according to a recent report from the Union of Catholic Asian (UCA) News.
The outlet reported May 28 that church leaders have raised concerns that the conflict between the Kuki and Naga tribes is not only forcing Catholics to leave but also is deepening divisions within the Christian community to the point that unity could become a “thing of the past.”
Though the current situation builds on already tense relations between the two tribes, the hostility escalated in May after 14 Kukis and six Nagas were abducted following the murder of three Kuki Baptist Church leaders by unidentified militants, UCA News reported.
Neither the kidnapped Kukis nor the Nagas have been returned to their tribes, and both sides blame the other for holding them hostage. The Kukis also believe that the Nagas killed the three Baptists, an accusation that has led to the abductions of more people from both tribes.
According to UCA News, the two tribes have employed economic blockades against each other to stop essential supplies — including medicine and food — from getting to their respective territories.
The outlet reported that the Kukis and Nagas began feuding in April after two Naga men were killed by unknown militants, prompting the Nagas to blame the Kukis though the other tribe denied committing the murders.
Church leaders have speculated that the Hindu Meitei tribe, which has been fighting the Kuki community for three years, created the conflict in an attempt to wipe out the Kukis. According to an anonymous leader, clashes between the Meiteis and Kukis still allowed for relative peace for the Christian community; however, the leader added that the current situation and the delay of the hostages’ release “is deepening the divide amongst us.”