Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Aug 28:
Condemning the killing of S Thawngkhanlian, who was the chairman of Baptist Youth Fellowship, Evangelical Baptist Convention Church (EBCC), Vengnuam and injuring four other worshippers when security personnel fired at the Church while Holy Communion service was being carried out in the night of August 20, Council of Zomi Churches (CZC), Churachandpur has termed the allegation of the security forces that 25-30 cadres of ZRA were present inside the Church as a big lie.
Instead of apologising for their misdeeds, the security forces are trying to defend themselves by labelling the worshippers as ZRA cadres, CZC secretary Rev S Vungminthang said in a statement, adding that this as revealed the morale of the security forces as no more than the perpetrators of the ISKCON bombing who killed five persons and wounded several other worshippers on August 16.We cannot accept fabricated arguments after attacking innocent worshippers, CZC secretary stated categorically.
While condemning the self justified action of targeting worshippers in the church on the pretext of fighting insurgency, CZC also appealed to the Government and its security forces to protect the right to freedom of worship and respect the sanctity of religious places.
Baptist Youth Fellowship, Singngat Division has also expressed its shock and anguish over the most inhumane and demonic profanity firing and attack upon decent worshippers attending the Sunday sacramental service at EBC Chapel, Vengnuam, New Lamka which resulted into the death of BYF Chairman S Thawngkhanlian Ngaihte and injuring 5 other church members on the fateful night of August 20.