New Delhi/Imphal, July 31:
In a significant breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested a key conspirator in the gruesome killings of three women and three children in Manipur’s Jiribam district last year.
The accused, identified as Thanglienlal Hmar alias Boya, a resident of Moinathol Dilkshosh Ghaat in Assam’s Cachar district, was apprehended by a joint team of the NIA and Assam Police. According to officials, he played an active role in planning and executing the brutal murders.
On November 11, 2024, militants abducted six members of the Meitei community—including a 10-month-old infant—from Borebekra in Jiribam. Their bodies were later found dumped in the Barak River along the Manipur-Assam border. The incident also led to the killing of two other civilians and large-scale arson in the area.
A mobile phone and SIM card were recovered from Boya’s possession during the operation. Investigators say the arrest marks a crucial step in unraveling the conspiracy behind the killings, which triggered widespread violence across Manipur, especially in Jiribam.
The NIA had taken over the case from Borebekra police and continues to investigate the network involved. Earlier this month, the Manipur High Court directed the agency to submit a detailed progress report on the case, following a Public Interest Litigation filed by Soram Tekendrajit.
Officials stressed that the NIA, which functions under the Union Home Ministry, remains focused on counter-terrorism and handling cases that threaten the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.
This arrest is expected to shed more light on the motives and planning of one of the most shocking acts of violence in the state’s recent history.
