The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an accused in connection with the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack at a residential house in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Manipur’s Moirang on April 7.
S.
Palal Thadou allegedly handled finances for UKNA, a Kuki insurgent group that is not engaged in peace talks with the government.
He was first arrested on July 23 by the Assam Rifles and the Churachandpur police.
Two minor children were killed and another person was injured in the Moirang incident when unknown militants launched an explosive device from a hillside towards Tronglaobi Awang Leikai.
The case was initially registered at the Moirang police station in Bishnupur district.
“The explosion struck the residential wall of a house, causing serious injuries to three family members, including two minor children who later succumbed to their injuries.
An unexploded improvised RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) was also recovered near the site,” the NIA said.
Manipur highway opens, blockade of another continues The investigation was subsequently taken over by the NIA, which re-registered the case on April 23.
“During the course of the investigation, the involvement of accused S.
Palal Thadou has surfaced in the commission of the offence,” the agency said.
The agency said Thadou was initially arrested by the Churachandpur police in one case, following which Bishnupur police also arrested him in another case.
The NIA has secured 10-day custody of the accused from a special court in Imphal to probe “the larger conspiracy behind the terror act”, making him the first accused to be arrested in the case.
