Daijiworld Media Network – Imphal

Imphal, Jul 10: The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in a joint operation with the Manipur Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), arrested two persons from Kangpokpi district on Friday in connection with the killing of six Naga civilians.

The arrests were made during an early morning raid at Leilon Vaiphei village based on specific intelligence inputs.

Police identified the accused as Ayingbi, a woman, and Pradip, both residents of the Kuki-Zo village of Leilon Vaiphei. They are alleged to have been involved in the killing of six Naga civilians on May 13.

The bodies of the six victims were recovered from the outskirts of Leilon Vaiphei on June 10, nearly a month after the killings, sparking widespread protests by Naga and Meitei organisations demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible.

The incident also led to road blockades by Naga groups on routes leading to Kangpokpi district, resulting in shortages of essential commodities and a sharp rise in prices in the Kuki-Zo-majority region.

Following the recovery of the bodies, Kuki Zo Council (KZC) chairman Henlienthang Thanglet publicly apologised for the killings and called for an impartial investigation into all incidents of violence linked to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur.

However, the KZC later issued a clarification stating that Thanglet's remarks had been misinterpreted as an admission of responsibility by the Kuki-Zo community.

The council said the apology was made purely on humanitarian grounds and was not intended to assign collective responsibility for the killings.

Further investigation into the case is underway.