GUWAHATI: A joint team of the Manipur Police, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Friday apprehended two persons for alleged connection with the killing of six Naga civilians from Leilon Vaiphei village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, a case that has deepened tensions between the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities. Acting on what officials described as “credible intelligence inputs”, the joint team launched a pre-dawn operation at Leilon Vaiphei village and apprehended Pradip, son of Tomba, and his wife Ayingbi, both residents of the village.Police said search and seizure procedures were carried out during the operation and legal formalities are underway.Police in it’s statement on X did not disclose what was recovered during the searches or elaborate on the specific role allegedly played by the two accused, citing the ongoing investigation. The case relates to the abduction of 18 Naga civilians, including women and a child, from Leilon Vaiphei on May 13. While 12 hostages were released, six Naga men remained missing. Their mutilated bodies were recovered nearly a month later on June 10 from a forested area, triggering outrage across Naga civil society and prompting the Centre to hand over the investigation to the NIA. The gruesome killings sparked widespread protests across Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur and Nagaland, with organisations including the Naga Women’s Union and the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur demanding the arrest of all those involved and a time-bound investigation by the NIA. They also sought action against those allegedly responsible for the abduction, torture and murder of the victims. Friday’s arrests mark the first major breakthrough in the investigation since the NIA took over the case, although officials indicated that the probe is continuing and more arrests are likely.
