Guwahati: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two more suspects in connection with the abduction and killing of six Naga civilians in Manipur, taking the total number of arrests in the case to four, officials said.
The latest arrests were carried out by a joint team of the NIA, Manipur Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) during a follow-up investigation. Manipur Police identified the arrested individuals as Lungoulal Vaiphei of Leilon Vaiphei village in Leimakhong, Kangpokpi district, and Lunminthang Sitlhou alias Jack of Molhoi village in the same area.
Police said investigations are continuing and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other people allegedly linked to the case.
Earlier on July 10, the NIA, with assistance from state police and the CRPF, arrested a couple Watham Pradip (42) and Watham Ongbi Ayingbi alias Mangaig (44) from Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district.
Reports had also suggested that a police personnel posted in Kangpokpi was questioned over a possible role in the incident, though authorities have not yet confirmed the nature of his involvement.
The case relates to the abduction of 20 Naga individuals from Leilon Vaiphei village following the May 13 twin ambushes in Kangpokpi and Noney districts, in which four people, including three church leaders and a Naga civilian, were killed.
On the same day, 28 members of the Kuki community were also reportedly abducted by Naga groups. After appeals from various organisations and the Manipur government, 14 hostages from each side were released on May 15, while six Nagas and 14 Kukis remained in captivity.
The 14 Kuki hostages were released on June 9, but six Naga civilians were found dead the following day near Kharam Vaiphei village, located close to Leilon Vaiphei.
On June 25, Henlienthang Thanglet, chairman of the Kuki Zo Council (KZC), expressed regret over the killings, describing the incident as a grave mistake. The KZC later clarified that the statement was made out of humanitarian concern and was not intended to hold the entire Kuki-Zo community responsible.
The violence in Manipur, which began in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, has since affected several other groups and resulted in more than 260 deaths and the displacement of around 60,000 people.
The Meitei community, largely based in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo communities, primarily residing in the hill districts, have remained separated amid ongoing tensions. Although the state government has denied the existence of formal buffer zones, certain areas have been identified as highly sensitive.
A new government was formed in February after nearly a year of President’s Rule, with representation from major communities as part of efforts to restore stability and maintain ethnic balance in the state.