Couple arrested in NIA-led operation over killing of 6 Naga civilians in Manipur
A man and his wife were arrested in Manipur's Kangpokpi district during an NIA-led joint operation on Friday in connection with the killing of six
A man and his wife were arrested in Manipur's Kangpokpi district during an NIA-led joint operation on Friday in connection with the killing of six Naga civilians earlier this year, police said. The suspects have been identified as Pradip and his spouse, Ayinghi, residents of Leilon Vaiphei, a Kuki-dominated village. The "precise operation" to arrest them was carried out by a joint team of Manipur Police, Investigation Agency (NIA) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) based on credible inputs, the police said. Read Full Story In a post on X, the Manipur Police noted that six Naga civilians were killed in Leilon Vaiphei on May 13 this year. According to the statement, necessary search and seizure procedures were carried out, and other legal formalities were being conducted.
The arrests come amid widespread protests in Manipur by Naga and Meitei communities over the May killings. The bodies of the six Naga civilians were recovered from the vicinity of Leilon Vaiphei village on June 10. NAGA CIVILIANS' KILLING: WHAT HAPPENED? The case stems from the kidnapping of four dozen people belonging to two different ethnic communities, and the killing of six of them. As many as 20 Naga individuals were kidnapped in Leilon Vaiphei while travelling in the aftermath of two ambushes, one in the Kangpokpi district and another in Noney. The twin ambushes, carried out separately on May 13, claimed the lives of four people – three church leaders and one Naga man. On the same evening, 28 members of the Kuki community were also kidnapped by Naga outfits.
Later, with appeals from several groups and the state government, 14 hostages were set free on May 15 by each side. The remaining 14 Kuki hostages were let go unharmed by Naga groups weeks later, on June 9. However, the mutilated bodies of the six remaining Naga hostages were found the next day near Leilon Vaiphei during a search operation by security forces. Days after the bodies were recovered, Kuki Zo Council (KZC) chairman Henlienthang Thanglet apologised for the incident and called for an impartial probe into all acts of violence linked to the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur. "I admit the Kuki-Zo people made a grave mistake in killing the six Naga civilians. It was done out of emotion.
I strongly condemn it. I am very sorry and apologise on behalf of my people," he had told a press conference, per news agency PTI. However, a day later, the outfit stated that certain portions of Thanglet's remarks had been "misconstrued as an admission of responsibility by the Kuki-Zo community." It said that the expression of sorrow was made purely in the spirit of humanity, compassion, and moral responsibility and "was not intended to assign collective guilt." The clarification came as an influential Naga students' organisation expressed anger at the apology issued by the KZC chief. Ends (With inputs from PTI)
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