Two more arrested in Manipur over killing of six Nagas

GUWAHATIA joint team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the ManipurPolice, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Saturday (July 18, 2026) arrested two people accused in the abduction and killing of six Liangmai Naga civilians more than a month ago.Also read | Manipur CM vows arrest of all accused in killing of six Naga civiliansWhile Lungoulal Vaiphei was arrested from Leilon Vaiphei, the village where the six slain individuals resided, Lunminthang Sitlhou was arrested from Molhoi village. Both villages are in the Leimakhong area of the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district.

This was the second set of arrests in the case the NIA has been handling after the mutilated bodies of the six Naga civilians were recovered from Kangpokpi district on June 10. The first was the arrest of Pradip and his wife Ayingbi, alias Mangaih, from Leilon Vaiphei on July 10. Kuki-Zo Council’s apology for killings is not enough: Manipur Naga youth bodyThe village is less than 30 km northwest of Manipur’s capital, Imphal.

“Further efforts are on to arrest other individuals connected with the case,” the State police said. The efforts are based on the testaments of witnesses to the abduction of the six Nagas.The six were among 48 people — 28 Kukis and 20 Nagas — abducted hours after unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed three church leaders from the Thadou community in Kangpokpi district on May 13.

The Thadous are divided over their ethnic affiliation to the Kuki group.Kuki abductors released 14 Nagas, and Naga abductors released 14 Kukis in a hostage exchange deal brokered by the security forces on May 15, 2026. Following appeals by various church organisations and the government’s assurance that the identity of the six missing Nagas would be established, the Nagas released the remaining 14 Kuki hostages on June 9.

The bodies of the six abducted Nagas were recovered the following day. The recovery triggered violence in the Naga-dominated Senapati district. The United Naga Council, Manipur’s apex Naga body, declared a 24-hour total shutdown to protest the killing of the six people.

Published - July 18, 2026 07:17 pm IST Read Comments Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit READ LATER SEE ALL Remove Related Topics Manipur / national or ethnic minority / unrest, conflicts and war / death / police