NIA Arrests Two as Pressure Mounts for Justice in Manipur Naga Killings

A National Investigation Agency (NIA)-led team on Friday arrested two persons from Kangpokpi district in Manipur for their alleged involvement in the killing of six Naga civilians , marking a key breakthrough in one of the state's most sensitive cases linked to the ongoing ethnic conflict.

The joint operation, carried out by the NIA, Manipur Police and CRPF , led to the arrest of Ayingbi and Pradip from Leilon Vaiphei village . Police said the accused were allegedly involved in the killing of six Naga civilians abducted from the village on May 13 . Their bodies were recovered on June 10 , sparking protests by Naga and Meitei groups and road blockades that disrupted supplies to Kangpokpi.

The arrests came a day after the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) held a candlelight vigil in Kohima and submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu , seeking a transparent, time-bound investigation , protection for Naga civilians and accountability for those responsible. The federation also called for a review of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and raised concerns over alleged illegal poppy cultivation, narcotics trafficking and illicit arms. These allegations were made by the NSF and have not been independently verified.

Earlier, Kuki Zo Council (KZC) chairman Henlienthang Thanglet apologised over the killings but later clarified that his remarks were an expression of humanitarian concern and not an admission of collective responsibility by the Kuki-Zo community.

The case is among several being investigated amid Manipur's ethnic violence , which erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The conflict has claimed hundreds of lives, displaced thousands and remains a major internal security challenge , with the NIA probing multiple cases involving killings, abductions and attacks on civilians.