Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: The National Investigation Agency, working alongside Manipur Police and the CRPF, has arrested 10 people in a major operation aimed at curbing the state’s ongoing ethnic unrest. The crackdown spanned several districts, including Imphal West, Imphal East, and Bishnupur.
Among those apprehended are four members of the radical group Arambai Tenggol. These individuals are accused of participating in the February 2024 looting of weapons and ammunition from the 5th Indian Reserve Battalion post located at Chingarel. The four suspects were identified as Haobicham Manaocha, Mutum Naoba, Kangabam Somananda, and Ningthoubam Bobby.
Security forces heightened their presence near the Thoubal district court as the suspects were brought in for proceedings, with the Rapid Action Force stationed nearby to maintain order. The agency officially assumed control of the investigation in July 2025.
Beyond the arms looting, the remaining six arrests relate to a string of high-profile cases. These include the 2023 bank robbery in Ukhrul, the 2024 murder of a Hmar woman in Jiribam, and the kidnapping and killing of four Kuki individuals. Official records state that the agency has now apprehended a total of 10 individuals, noting that "the NIA officially took over the case in July 2025." Previous state-led inquiries into the arms theft resulted in the suspension of seven IRB personnel.
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