Imphal: The National Investigation Agency officially took charge of the murder probe into three church leaders killed in Kangpokpi last month. Federal agents stepped in Wednesday after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs ordered the transfer from local police.
Suspected militants ambushed two vehicles near Zero Point on May 13. The victims belonged to the Thadou Baptist Association and were heading home to Kangpokpi after a religious gathering in Churachandpur. Three people died on the spot. Four others suffered bullet wounds in the sudden spray of gunfire.
The Ministry of Home Affairs cited a need for a deeper look into the violence. Officials stated the attack was intended to cause loss of life and property and to "spread fear among civilians." Investigators now aim to uncover a larger conspiracy behind the ambush.
The case hit the books as an NIA file after initial work by Manipur Police. This region remains locked in ethnic unrest that has gripped the state since May 2023.
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