Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) has demanded that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) publicly establish the motive and wider conspiracy behind the April 7 IED attack at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai, which killed two children, aged five years and five months, and critically injured their mother.
The demand comes after the NIA arrested Thangmang Haokip, 48, of Churachandpur, on September 25 as the second accused in the case. He was remanded to 12 days’ police custody by the Special NIA Court-II in Imphal.
Earlier, S. Palal Thadou Kuki was arrested on August 12 after Manipur Police identified him as an alleged finance head of the proscribed United Kuki National Army (UKNA) and one of the main persons involved in the attack.
TIM said the attack assumed added significance as it occurred on the day of the 8th State-Level Hun-Thadou Cultural Festival in Imphal. The organisation had publicly reported threats against Thadou people wishing to attend the festival several days before the event, alleging that armed-group names were being invoked to intimidate participants.
TIM has questioned why the particular family was targeted and whether the attack was connected to the festival, the reported threats or the community’s stated peace initiatives. It urged the NIA to establish the motive in its chargesheet and identify everyone involved in planning, financing, executing or facilitating the attack.
The organisation also demanded that the Centre and the Manipur Government disclose what action was taken after its advance warnings and ensure protection for civilians and communities facing threats.
TIM further urged the NIA to examine what it described as possible links between the UKNA and wider Kuki militant and affiliated civil-society networks, while stressing that any individual or organisation found involved should face prosecution according to law.
The NIA has said its investigation is continuing to identify other persons allegedly involved in the conspiracy and ascertain the wider network behind the attack.